Definition of

Factor

2x3=6

Numbers we can multiply together to get another number.

Example: 2 and 3 are factors of 6, because 2 × 3 = 6


A number can have MANY factors!

Example: What are the factors of 12?
• 3 × 4 = 12, so 3 and 4 are factors of 12
• 2 × 6 = 12, so 2 and 6 are also factors of 12
• and 1 × 12 = 12, so 1 and 12 are factors of 12 as well

So 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 are all factors of 12
And -1, -2, -3, -4, -6 and -12 also, because multiplying negatives makes a positive.



In Algebra factors can be expressions like "x+3" etc
Example: (x+3) and (x+1) are factors of x2 + 4x + 3:

(x+3)(x+1) = x^2+4x+3