Is It A Factor?

Is it a Factor? is a 15-page PDF digital file ready to print or to be used online. The answers are included. It is a lesson that explains what a factor is, how to find the prime factorization of a number, and the tricks to determine if the numbers 1 through 10 are a factor of a larger number.

Once everything is explained and examples are given, there are two exercises:

1. Finding the prime factorization of the given numbers  
2. Deciding if numbers 2 through 10 are a factor of the given numbers. 

Prime Factorization is so incredibly useful, it became a very important mathematical theorem. Even being labeled, The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic.

Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
Any integer greater than 1 is either a prime number or can be written as a unique product of prime numbers, up to the order of the factors.

This lesson gives students the skills necessary to easily factor a number and divide it into its prime factors. These skills are useful in:

• Multiplying large numbers
• Long division
• Finding the Greatest Common Factor (GCF)
• Finding the Least Common Denominator (LCD)
• Understanding how to determine the Least Common Multiple (LCM) between two numbers Adding and Subtracting fractions
• Solving algebraic equations
• Making metal math easier and quicker

Essentially, teaching this skill young can help students further along in math, and increase their ability to process math easily and more quickly in their heads.

Before giving your student this lesson, they need to be able to:

1. Multiply two-digit by two-digit numbers.
2. Understand division and remainders.
3. Solve long division problems with and without remainders.

Depending on the level of the student, this lesson is appropriate for 5th grade and above.