Is 659 a prime number?

The number 659 has only 2 factors, 1 and 659, which are capable of dividing the number completely without leaving any remainder. Thus, 659 is a prime number.

A number to be a prime number should follow the criteria, which is that it should not have factors more than 2. Here, 659 has only 2 factors, 1 and itself, hence making it a prime number.

Given below are a few ways that can be used to find prime or composite numbers.

The different methods we can use to check if a number is a prime number are explained below.

1. Counting Divisors Method
2. Divisibility Test
3. Prime Number Chart
4. Prime Factorization

For the counting divisors method, it is to be checked whether the number is divisible by any numbers other than 1 and the number itself.

The counting divisors method for 659 would simply be

Divisors of 659 = 1, 659
Number of divisors = 2

The number 659 can be considered prime.

In the division test, we try to divide the number by any of the prime numbers. If we cannot, then it is considered a prime number.

In the divisibility method, the prime number only has 2 divisors, which are 1 and itself.

The divisors of 659 are 1 and 659.

Thus, 659 consists of only 2 factors that divide it completely without any remainder.

The prime number chart is the list of prime numbers starting from 2 to infinity.

The list of prime numbers under 100 are:
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97.

659 is not in this list, but it is still a prime number because it has no divisors other than 1 and 659.

Prime Number: A prime number is a number greater than 1 that has exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and the number itself. Example: 659, as it only has the divisors 1 and 659.

Divisors: Divisors are numbers that divide another number completely, without leaving any remainder. For 659, the only divisors are 1 and 659.

Divisibility Test: A method used to check if one number can be divided by another number without a remainder. If no divisors other than 1 and itself exist, the number is prime.

Prime Factorization: The process of breaking down a number into its prime factors. Since 659 is prime, its prime factorization is simply 659 itself.

Composite Number: A composite number is a number that has more than two distinct divisors, unlike a prime number. 659 is not a composite number because it has only two divisors, 1 and 659.