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Last updated on December 1st, 2024
A number is classified as a prime number if it satisfies a certain condition. The number has to be having only two factors 1 and the number itself, all other numbers which have more than two factors are categorized under composite numbers. The prime are used in our everyday life for the security and pin encryption and in machinery building.
A prime number should not have factors more than 2 but 126 has 4 divisors. No, 126 is a composite number.
The divisors of 126 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 14, 18, 21, 42, 63, and 126. Therefore, 126 is a composite number. Composite numbers are the numbers which have factors more than 2.
A number to be a prime number should follow the criteria, which is that it should not have factors more than 2. 126 has factors more than 2, so it is a composite number.
Given below are a few ways that can be used to find prime or composite numbers.
In this method, the divisors of a number are listed, and the number is checked, to be called a prime number. The counting divisors method for 126 would simply be
Divisors of 126 = 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 14, 18, 21, 42, 63, 126
Number of divisors = 12
The number 126 can be considered composite.
In divisibility method, the prime number only has 2 divisors, which are 1 and itself.
Divisors of 126 = 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 14, 18, 21, 42, 63, 126
As 126 has factors more than 2 then it is not a prime number.
We write the prime number chart up to 10, which helps in sorting numbers.
The prime numbers from 100 to 200 are 101, 103, 107, 109, 113, 127, 131, 137, 139, 149, 151, 157, 163, 167, 173, 179, 181, 191, 193, 197, 199. 126 is not on the list, so it is not a prime number.
This method is only used for a composite number. Since 126 is a composite number, prime factorization for 126 is : 2 x 3 x 3 x 7 = 21 x 32 x 71
Hence, the prime factors of 126 are 2, 3, and 7.
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.