What are Composite Numbers?
Natural numbers are categorized as prime numbers, whole numbers, complex numbers, rational numbers, and so on. One of the number categories is a composite number.
In simple words, any natural number is called a composite number if it is not a prime number. Unlike composite numbers, prime numbers only contain two factors: the number itself and 1. Composite numbers are the exact opposite of prime numbers. For example, 6 is a composite number as it may be divided by two, three, or even six.
Composite Numbers Definition
Numbers with more than two factors are referred to as composite numbers. Composite numbers are those natural numbers that are divisible by more than two numbers or by at least one number other than one and the number itself.
Examples of Composite Numbers
Those are the first few composite numbers: 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Using 20 and 22 as examples. Since 20 and 22 in the example above have more than two elements, they are referred to as composite numbers. Now let’s examine some of the crucial characteristics of composite numbers.
First 10 Composite Numbers
As we already discussed, composite numbers are those positive integers greater than 1 that have at least one positive divisor other than 1 and themselves. Here are the first 10 composite numbers:
| 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 |
Properties of Composite Numbers
Various properties of composite numbers that are very useful for students are,
- Composite numbers consist of more than two factors.
- Each composite number is one of its own factors.
- Of all composite numbers, 4 is the smallest.
- Composite numbers can be divided evenly by smaller numbers, either prime or composite.
- Divisible by other composite numbers is a composite number.
- At least two prime numbers are factors in every composite number.
Prime Factorization of Composite Numbers
Prime factorization is a process of breaking down a composite number into its prime factors, which are the prime numbers that, when multiplied together, result in the original composite number.
Some examples of prime factorization of composite numbers are:
Prime factorization of 24
- 24 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3
Prime factorization of 56
- 56 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 7
Prime factorization of 90
- 90 = 2 × 3 × 3 × 5
Prime factorization of 120
- 120 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 5
Prime factorization of 210
- 210 = 2 × 3 × 5 × 7
Prime factorization of 360
- 360 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5
What are Composite Numbers? Definition, Types, List, Chart, Properties, Examples
A composite number is a positive integer that can be formed by multiplying two smaller positive integers. It is also a positive integer that has at least one divisor other than 1 and itself. Composite numbers having a minimum of 3 factors are the opposite of prime numbers, which only have 2 factors.
In this article, we’ll explore composite numbers from 1 to 1000, their significance, definition, and examples. We’ll also study the various types of composite numbers, examine the distinctions between prime and composite numbers, and learn methods for identifying whether a number is composite or not.
Table of Content
- What are Composite Numbers?
- Composite Numbers From 1 to 1000
- How to Find the Composite Number?
- Special Composite Numbers
- Neither Prime nor Composite
- Prime Vs Composite Numbers