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A prime factor is a factor that is a [[prime number]]. The prime factors of 24 are 2 and 3. The other positive factors of 24 are 1, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24, but these are not prime, but are [[composite number]]s.
A prime factor is a factor that is a [[prime number]]. The prime factors of 24 are 2 and 3. The other positive factors of 24 are 1, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24, but these are not prime, but are [[composite number]]s.
==Prime factorization==
The expression of an integer as a product of its prime factors is called a '''prime factorization'''. The prime factorisation of 24 is
The expression of an integer as a product of its prime factors is called a '''prime factorization'''. The prime factorisation of 24 is
and they are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24.
and they are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24.
==Other uses==
The word factor also appears in other contexts, such as algebra. A [[polynomial]], such as x<sup>3</sup>+3x<sup>2</sup>+2x, may be decomposed into a product of linear terms (terms of the form (ax+b) where a and b are real numbers, and a is nonzero); for example, x<sup>3</sup>+3x<sup>2</sup>+2x=x(x+1)(x+2). These linear terms are called the factors of the polynomial, and the process of determining the factors is called [[factorization]].
The word factor also appears in other contexts, such as algebra. A [[polynomial]], such as x<sup>3</sup>+3x<sup>2</sup>+2x, may be decomposed into a product of linear terms (terms of the form (ax+b) where a and b are real numbers, and a is nonzero); for example, x<sup>3</sup>+3x<sup>2</sup>+2x=x(x+1)(x+2). These linear terms are called the factors of the polynomial, and the process of determining the factors is called [[factorization]].
[[Category:Mathematics]]
[[Category:Mathematics]]