Factors of 16

1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 are the factors of 16

Negative factors of 16: For each positive factor, there is a corresponding negative factor.

Negative factors: -1, -2,  -4, -8, -16

Prime factors of 16: Prime factors are the numbers that can be divided by the number itself or 1, in case of 16, the only prime factor is 2. 

Prime factorization of 16:Prime factorization is used to express the product of primes in exponential form.

16 is prime factorized as 24

An overview of the factors of 16

Students use various methods to find out the factors of a number. Here, we explain a few methods as follows - 

• Multiplication Method

• Division Method

• Prime Factor and Prime Factorization

• Factor Tree
   

In multiplication method, we find pairs of number where the product will be 16. In this process, possible steps will be - 

Step 1: Find all those numbers whose product will be 16.

Step 2: These numbers will be called the factors of 16.

Step 3: Students have to write these pairs of number for this method.

List of numbers whose product is 16

1 × 16 = 16

2 × 8 = 16

4 × 4 = 16

So the pair of numbers whose product is 16 are (1,16), (2,8) and (4,4).

For the division method, the process of division will go on until the remainder becomes zero.

Step-by-step process:

Step 1: For division method, always try the smallest number to start with. It is advisable to start dividing the number by 1, then both the number and 1 will be its factors. Example: 16÷1 = 16

Step 2: Then check with next number to see whether the number is divided completely without any remainder. Both divisor and quotient are the factors. Example: 16÷2 = 8 and so on.

Prime factorization is the process where the number will be a product of prime factors or prime numbers.

Prime Factors of 16

16 has only 2 as its prime factor.

To find the prime factor of 16:

Divide 16 by the smallest prime number 2

16÷2 = 8

8÷2 = 4

4÷2 = 2

2 ÷2 = 1

So for the prime factorization method, 16 can also be written as 2⁴.  Prime Factorization helps to express the prime factors in their exponential form. Prime Factorization is expressed as 2⁴

Through factor tree, the prime factors are branched out to show the process clearly for students.

Factor Tree of 16:

Factor Pairs:

Factor pairs are a set of two factors. When the two factors are multiplied together should give the product 16 in this case.

Positive Factor Pairs: (1, 16), (2, 8), (4, 4), 

Negative Factor Pairs:  (-1, -16), (-2, -8), (-4, -4), 

Here’s a list of positive and negative factors pairs of 16:
 

• Dividend: It is the number that is divided in the division problem. So if 16 is divided by 2, then 16 is called dividend. 

• Quotient: It is the number that gets as a result of division

• Factors: Numbers that divide the given number completely without any remainder.

• Prime Factors: Prime numbers that multiply together to form the given number.

• Prime Factorization: Process of breaking down the number into prime factors

• Greatest Common Factor: Biggest factor which is common in two or more numbers.