What Are Prime and Composite Numbers?
Numbers can be special in different ways!
A prime number is a number greater than 1 that can only be divided by 1 and itself. A composite number has more than two factors. The number 1 is neither prime nor composite - it's special all by itself!
How to Tell Them Apart
1️⃣ Find factors - numbers that multiply to make your number
2️⃣ Count the factors - only 2? It's prime!
3️⃣ More than 2? It's composite!
Let's Play with Numbers!
Example 1: Number Detective
Click on numbers below to discover if they're prime or composite:
Example 2: Shape Factors
Some numbers can form rectangles in different ways. Prime numbers can only make one rectangle!
Composite: 4 has factors 1, 2, 4
Prime: 5 only has factors 1, 5
Parent Tips 🌟
- Factor hunt: Have your child find all factors of numbers under 30. Make it a game - who can find them fastest?
- Real-world primes: Explain how primes are used in computer security (like protecting passwords) to show their importance.
- Visual learning: Use buttons or blocks to arrange numbers into rectangles - primes will only make one straight line!