Last updated on May 26th, 2025
A number that divides another number exactly without leaving any remainder is called a factor of the given number. Factors play an important role in mathematics and real-life situations. They are useful in deciding the best time to schedule work shifts and events.
Factors almost often come in pairs. There are several methods to figure them out, which you'll be learning in the following section. The factors of 42 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, and 42.
For finding factors, kids can use different methods for easier calculations. A few commonly used methods are as follows:
So, here we discuss a detailed explanation of the following methods:
In the multiplication method, we will try to find out the numbers that multiply together to give the value, 42, We will check the factors step by step:
Step 1: Start to multiply with numbers, which gives the value of 42.
Start with 1, and continue to multiply with other numbers.
1 × 42 = 42
2 × 21 = 42
3 × 14 = 42
6 × 7 = 42
Step 2: After the calculation, we get to these numbers, the factors of 42.
Step 3: The positive factor pairs of 42 found through multiplication are (1, 42), (2, 21), (3, 14), and (6, 7)
Step 4: The negative factor pairs of 274 are (-1, -42), (-2, -21), (-3, -14), and (-6, -7)
Using this method we will break down the given number till our remainder is zero. Let us go through the step-by-step process to find the factors of 42:
Step 1: Divide 42 by smaller numbers and see if there is any remainder. E.g., 42/1 = 42.
Step 2: We will continue in the same way and check for other numbers as well. For 42, the factors are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, and 42. Because 42 can be divided evenly by these numbers.
In the prime factorization method, we break down a number into its prime factor. The prime factors of 42 are 2, 3, and 7. The prime factors can be found using the methods given below:
2 is the smallest prime number, so start dividing with two. And then continue to divide with other prime numbers.
42 ÷ 2 =21
21 ÷ 3 = 7
7 ÷ 7 = 1
The prime factorization of 42 is :
42= 21 × 31 × 71
With prime factorization, 42 can be broken down into prime factors, 2, 3, and 7.
A factor tree is a graphical representation of breaking a composite number into its prime factors. It is an easy method to find out the factors of any number.
Step 1: 42 divided by 2 gives us the quotient 21.
Step 2: Since 21 is not a prime number, it can be divided further.
42 ÷ 2 =21
21 ÷ 3 = 7
7 ÷ 7 = 1
The prime factorization of 42 is: 42 = 21 × 31 × 71.
Every number has both positive and negative factors. Let us look at those sets of factors.
Positive pair Factors: (1, 42), (2, 21), (3, 14), and (6, 7)
Negative pair Factors: (-1, -42), (-2, -21), (-3, -14), and (-6, -7)
Children tend to make mistakes while finding the factors of a number. Let us look at how to avoid those mistakes.
A teacher plans to divide 42 students into groups with an equal number of students. If 3 students have each group, how many groups can be formed?
The total number of groups is 14.
Yes, the teacher formed 14 groups. The calculation of group formation is to divide the total number of students, by the number of students per group.
42 / 3 =14
What is the GCF of 42 and 24?
Factors of 24 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12
Factors of 42 = 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 42
Common factors: 1, 2, 3, 6
GCF = 6
GCF of 24 and 42 is 6. which is the highest common factor of both lists.
A packet containing 42 candies. How to divide them among 7 children equally?
Yes, each one will get 2 candies.
Yes, it can be possible,42 candies can be shared equally with 7 children. Each child will get 2 candies, and nothing will be left.
Charlie, have a rope. The length of that rope will be 42 cm, when you cut this into equal parts of 2 cm each, calculate how many pieces are there
21 pieces.
The total length of the rope is 42 cm. If we cut it into 2 cm pieces, we divide 42 by 2. The answer will be 21.
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.