Is 46 prime or composite?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether the number 46 is a prime number or a composite number. A prime number is defined as a number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself, while a composite number has additional positive divisors.
Answer
46 is a composite number.
Answer for screen readers
The number 46 is a composite number.
Steps to Solve
- Define the characteristics of 46
Start by recognizing that 46 is greater than 1, which allows it to be classified as either a prime or composite number.
- Find the divisors of 46
To determine if 46 is prime or composite, we need to find its divisors.
A divisor of a number is a number that divides it without leaving a remainder.
Let's test divisibility by some small prime numbers (2, 3, 5, etc.).
- Check divisibility by 2
Since 46 is an even number, it is divisible by 2.
Calculating: $$ 46 \div 2 = 23 $$
This means that both 2 and 23 are divisors of 46.
- Confirm the nature of 46
Since 46 has divisors other than 1 and itself (namely, 2 and 23), we conclude that 46 is not a prime number.
The number 46 is a composite number.
More Information
46 can be expressed as the product of its prime factors: $46 = 2 \times 23$. This shows that it has multiple divisors, confirming its composite nature.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume that even numbers greater than 2 are prime. Always check for divisors to determine if a number is prime or composite.
