FACTORS, MULTIPLES and PRIME NUMBERS

GCSE questions in this area tend to combine the topics of factors, multiples and prime numbers into one hybrid mix of a mess which could typically be worth a whole heap of marks! The good thing is that most of those marks up for grabs are relatively easy to get. Let us begin with a quick reminder of what factors, multiples and prime numbers are.

For example, the factors of 12 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12. {All the numbers which divide into 12 without leaving a remainder.} For example, the multiples of 12 are: 12, 24, 36, 48, ...... {The 12 times table.} A prime number is any number having exactly two different factors. The first few prime numbers are: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 23, ...... Basically, a number (except 1) is prime if only 1 and itself divide into the number.

For example, if we were asked to factorise the number 12, we might write 12 = 3 4, or 12 = 2 6 etc.

Example 1. Find i) ii) i)

the highest common factor of the numbers 24 and 40, the lowest common multiple of the numbers 5 and 8.

Comment. By highest common factor we mean the highest number which divides into both 24 and 40. Solution. The highest common factor of 24 and 40 is 8 since this is the largest number which divides into both 24 and 40.

ii)

Comment. By lowest common multiple we mean the lowest number which both 5 and 8 divide into, i.e. is in both the 5 and 8 times tables. Solution. The lowest common multiple of 5 and 8 is 40 since this is the smallest number which both 5 and 8 divide into.

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Whilst there are a number of strategies for speeding up the work involved in example 1, on the balance of play it is simply not worth the extra hassle for what are normally very straight forward questions. Our next example would form part of a typical GCSE question! Example 2. Express the number 120 as a product of its prime factors in index form. Comment. Where this question sometimes causes students problems is in simply figuring out what the hell the question is asking for? Well, a little bit of detective work is all that is required! Write 120 as a product! Uhm... product means multiply. This must mean that we are to write 120 = ...... ...... ...... ...... etc. where all that is required is for us to fill in the missing values; e.g. 120 = 10 12. However, the question insists that the missing values are prime numbers? Still, 120 = 10 12 is a start.

Solution.

We have 120 = 10 12.

Now 10 is not a prime number since we can write 10 = 2 5. Thus 120 = 2 5 12.

10 Now 12 is not a prime number since we can write 12 = 3 4. Thus 120 = 2534

12 Now 4 is not a prime number since we can write 4 = 2 2. Thus 120 = 25322

4 We therefore have that 120 = 2 2 2 3 5 or, in index form, 120 = 23 3 5.

Comment. There is obviously quite a lot which could be said about the above example. Well stick to the basics. The word index is the proper mathematical term for power. E.g. 2 to the power of 3 is written 23 and has a value of 2 2 2 = 8. This is what is referred to as index form. Why did we begin with 10 12 ? No particular reason. Had we started with 120 = 3 40 and then written 40 as 4 10 etc. we would eventually have arrived at the same answer as that given above. Example 3. a) Find the highest common factor of the numbers 16 and 40. b) The number 40 expressed as the product of its prime factors in index form is given by 23 5. Express 90 as the product of its prime factors in index form. Use your answer to b) to write 40 90 as the product of its prime factors in index form. Simplify your answer.

c)

Solution. a) The highest common factor of 16 and 40 is 8 since this is the largest number which divides into both 16 and 40. b) Comment. The key here is to not be afraid to start ! Some people will begin with 90 = 2 45, others would use 90 = 3 30 etc. It really does not matter. Well use 90 = 9 10. Solution. 90 = 9 10 = 3 3 10 = 3325 and thus 90 = 2 3 3 5 or, in index form, 90 = 2 32 5. c) Comment. Having been given that 40 = 23 5, it would probably make life easier to write this in the form 2 2 2 5 etc.

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Solution. We have 40 = 2 2 2 5, and 90 = 2 3 3 5. Hence 40 90 = (2 2 2 5) (2 3 3 5)

40 90 and thus 40 90 = 24 32 52.

Comment. The above question is a classic in that a lot of students, particularly if lacking in confidence, would be reluctant to even attempt it. The point is that even if you consider part c) to be beyond your reach, well so what ? Its only 1 mark ! Take the easy marks from parts a) and b) and simply get on with the exam. Incidentally, there is plenty of scope for a silly numerical mistake with these questions. Again, so what ? You will not be overly penalised for the odd silly mistake. Just dont make a habit of it !

Exercise 1. 1 2. Write 180 as the product of its prime factors in index form. a) b) Write 1200 as a product of prime numbers in index form. Use your result in part a) to write down the smallest multiple of 1200 which is a perfect square. Write 600 as a product of prime numbers in index form. Use your result in part a) to write down the smallest multiple of 600 which is a perfect square.

3.

a) b)

4. 5.

Express 900 as a product of prime numbers in index form. a) b) Express 300 as a product of prime numbers in index form. Given that 90 can be written as 2 32 5, use your answer to a) to find the highest common factor of 300 and 90.

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6.

a) b)

Express 126 as a product of prime numbers in index form. Given that 60 can be written as 22 3 5, use your answer to a) to find the highest common factor of 126 and 60.

Answers / solutions. 1. 180 = 22 32 5. 2. a) b) 1200 = 24 3 52. This is quite tricky and again is not worth losing any sleep over! Probably only 1 mark in the exam. We have 1200 = 24 3 52. Multiplying by 3 gives 3 1200 = 24 32 52 which equals (22 3 5) (22 3 5) or (2 2 3 5) a square number.
2

Answer = 3 1200 = 3600. 3. a) b) 23 3 52. 6.

4. 5.

2 2 32 52 . a) b) 300 = 22 3 52. Again, a little tricky in that this goes beyond mere number crunching. Still, only 1 mark etc. We have and 90 = 2 32 5 300 = 22 3 52.

From this we are supposed to spot that the highest number which divides into both 90 and 300 is given by 2 3 5 which is 30. For example, we cannot involve a factor of 22 since 90 involves only a 2 etc. Answer = 30. 6. a) b) 126 = 2 32 7. 6.

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