Are you ready?
Many number problems we work on can be made easier by knowing the factors of a number. Do you remember how to find the factors for a number?
Examples
Example 1
If we multiply 4 by 14, we get 56, so 4 and 14 make a factor pair of 56.
Which of the following options is also a factor pair of 56?
All numbers have at least one factor pair, 1 and itself.
To check if a pair of numbers is a factor pair of a given number, multiply the pair of numbers together.
Factors
Let's explore factors here, as well as learn about the highest common factor (HCF).
Exploration
Drag the sliders to find multiples of numbers from 1 to 12.
The number sentence shows us multiples of the numbers on the left, and factors of the number on the right. e.g. 6\times 8=48 means that 6 and 8 are factors of 48, and that 48 is a multiple of 6 and of 8.
Examples
Example 2
Which of these numbers is 6 a factor of?
The highest common factor of two numbers is the highest number that is a factor of both numbers.
Multiples
We've looked at factors, so it's time to look at multiples and find out what a lowest common multiple (LCM) is.
Examples
Example 3
True or False: 18 is a multiple of 3.
Factors and multiples are related to multiplication facts. Writing out a multiplication problem, such as 4\times 6=24 can help us remember which is which.
The lowest common multiple of two numbers is the lowest number that is a multiple of both numbers.