Factors of 4

The numbers which can evenly divide 4 are the factors of 4. 1, 2, and 4 are the factors of 4.

Negative factors of 4: The negative factors of 4 are the negative counterparts of the positive factors. -1, -2, and -4 are the negative factors of 4.

Prime factors of 4:  A prime number is a number which has only two factors, i.e., 1 and the number itself.
2 is the only prime factor of 4.

Prime factorization of 4: The process of splitting a number into smaller prime numbers is prime factorization. Here, the product of prime numbers is the number itself.

The prime factorization of 4 is 2 × 2 (2²)
 

Factors of a number is a number which can evenly divide the number. Some methods which are used to find the factor of a 4 are,

• Multiplication method

• Division method

• Prime factors and prime factorization

• Factor tree

In the multiplication method a pair of numbers are identified, the product of multiplying the number is 4.

 
Step 1: Find the numbers whose product is 4.

1 × 4 = 4

2 × 2 = 4

Step 2: List them as pairs

The pair of factors are (1, 4), (2, 2)

In the division method, we need to check which number can evenly divide 4. 

Let’s check the factors of 4 using division method

4 ÷ 1 = 4

4 ÷ 2 = 2

So, the factors are 1, 2, and 4.

Prime numbers are the numbers which have only two factors. The process of breaking down a large number into a smaller prime number is prime factorization. 

To find the factors of a number prime factorization, we need to follow these steps

Step 1: The given number needs to be divided with the smallest prime number.

Step 2: Now, we need to divide the remainder in step 1 with the prime number. The process is continued till the remainder is a prime number.

 
 Let's use the prime factorization method to find the factors of 4.

The prime factors of 4 are 2.

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17,… are the prime numbers. 

Step 1: Checking the divisibility by 2: 4 is an even number, so, divisible by 2.

    4 ÷ 2 = 2.

Step 2: As the remainder is 2 which is a prime number.

So, the factors of 4 are 1, 2, 4.

The Pictorial representation of factors of a number. It is in the form of a tree where the given number is split into branches which represent all the factors. 

The factor tree of 4:

A pair of factors of a number. The product of those numbers is the number itself. Factor pairs can be both positive and negative.

Positive pair factors: (1, 4), (2, 2).

Negative pair factors: (-1, -4), (-2, -2)
 

• Prime number: Any numbers which has only two factors are the prime numbers

• Composite numbers: The number which has more than two factors

• Remainder: The value left after dividing a number by another number. For example, 1 is the remainder when we divide 5 by 2.

• Product: The product of any number is the result of multiplying the number.