Factors of 42
The factors of 42 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 42. No, 42 is a composite number. Its prime factorization is 2 × 3 × 7.
Factor pairs of 42
Every factor has a partner that multiplies with it to give 42. Listing pairs from the outside in is the fastest way to find all the factors: once the two numbers in a pair meet in the middle, you have them all.
| Pair | Check |
|---|---|
| 1 and 42 | 1 × 42 = 42 |
| 2 and 21 | 2 × 21 = 42 |
| 3 and 14 | 3 × 14 = 42 |
| 6 and 7 | 6 × 7 = 42 |
Prime factorization of 42, step by step
Divide by the smallest prime that goes in evenly, then repeat on the result until you reach 1. The divisors you used are the prime factors.
| Step | Divide | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 42 ÷ 2 | 21 |
| 2 | 21 ÷ 3 | 7 |
| 3 | 7 ÷ 7 | 1 |
So 42 = 2 × 3 × 7, written compactly as 2 × 3 × 7.
Divisibility checks for 42
The quick rules a student uses before dividing, applied to 42:
| Divisible by | Rule | For 42 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | last digit is even | last digit 2 | yes |
| 3 | digit sum divisible by 3 | digits add to 6 | yes |
| 4 | last two digits divisible by 4 | 42 ÷ 4 | no |
| 5 | last digit is 0 or 5 | last digit 2 | no |
| 6 | divisible by both 2 and 3 | even, digit sum 6 | yes |
| 8 | last three digits divisible by 8 | 42 ÷ 8 | no |
| 9 | digit sum divisible by 9 | digits add to 6 | no |
| 10 | last digit is 0 | last digit 2 | no |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the factors of 42?
The factors of 42 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 42.
Is 42 a prime number?
No, 42 is a composite number. Its prime factorization is 2 × 3 × 7.
How many factors does 42 have?
42 has 8 factors. You can get that count from the prime factorization without listing them: add 1 to each exponent in 2 × 3 × 7 and multiply -- (1+1) × (1+1) × (1+1) = 8.
Is 42 even or odd?
42 is even (2 is one of its factors).
What is the sum of the factors of 42?
1 + 2 + 3 + 6 + 7 + 14 + 21 + 42 = 96. Leaving out 42 itself, the proper factors add to 54, more than 42, so 42 is an abundant number.
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