What times what equals 87?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for two numbers that, when multiplied together, result in 87. This involves finding factor pairs of the number 87.
Answer
The factor pairs of 87 are $(1, 87)$ and $(3, 29)$.
Answer for screen readers
The factor pairs of the number 87 are $(1, 87)$ and $(3, 29)$.
Steps to Solve
- Identify the factors of 87
Start by finding pairs of numbers that multiply to give 87. This can be done by checking divisibility.
- Check divisibility by smaller integers
Start with the smallest integers. Check if they divide 87 without leaving a remainder.
For example, check:
- $87 ÷ 1 = 87$
- $87 ÷ 3 = 29$ (since 3 can divide 87 evenly)
- $87 ÷ 29 = 3$ (29 and 3 are also factors)
- List the factor pairs
Once we identify the factors, we can find the pairs:
- The pairs of factors of 87 are $1 \times 87$ and $3 \times 29$.
- Verify the pairs
Finally, check if the products of the pairs equal 87:
- $1 \times 87 = 87$
- $3 \times 29 = 87$
Both pairs are valid.
The factor pairs of the number 87 are $(1, 87)$ and $(3, 29)$.
More Information
The number 87 is a product of two prime numbers, 3 and 29. This makes it a semi-prime number. Understanding prime factorization can be useful in many areas of mathematics.
Tips
Common mistakes include:
- Not checking all possible integer factors.
- Miscalculating the division which may lead to incorrect pairs.
