Factors of 32

The factors of 32 can neither be a decimal nor a fraction. These factors divide 32 by, leaving zero as the remainder.

The factors of 32 are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32.

• Negative Factors

These are negative counterparts of the positive factors

Negative factors: -1, -2, -4, -8, -16, -3.

• Prime Factors

Prime factors are the prime numbers themselves, when multiplied together, give 32 as the product.

Prime factor: 2

• Prime Factorization

Prime factorization involves breaking 32 into its prime factors

It is expressed as 25

Table listing the factors of 52

There are different methods to find the factors of 32. 

Methods to find the factors of 32:

• Multiplication Method

• Division Method

• Prime Factor and Prime Factorization

• Factor Tree

The multiplication method finds the pair of factors that give 32 as their product.

Step-by-step process

Step 1: Find the pair of numbers whose product is 32. 

Step 2: The factors are those numbers, when multiplied, give 32.

Step 3: Make a list of numbers whose product will be 32.

A list of numbers whose products are 32 is given below:

1 × 32 = 32

2 × 16 = 32

4 × 8 = 32

The division method finds the numbers that fully divide the given number. 

Step-by-step process

Step 1: Since every number is divisible by 1, 1 will always be a factor.  Example: 32÷1 = 32

Step 2: Move to the next integer. Both divisor and quotient are the factors. Example: 32÷2 = 16 and so on.

Picture showing the division method:

Multiplying prime numbers to get the given number as their product is called prime factors. Prime factorization is breaking down the number into its prime factors.

Prime Factors of 32

Number 32 has only one prime factor.

Prime factor of 32: 2

To find the prime factors of 32, divide 32 with the prime number 2

• 32÷2 = 16

• 16÷2 = 8

• 8÷2 = 4

• 4÷2 =2

• 2÷2 =1

Prime Factorization of 32

Prime Factorization breaks down the prime factors of 32

Expressed as 2⁵
 

The prime factorization is visually represented using the factor tree. It helps to understand the process easily. In this factor tree, each branch splits into prime factors.

Factor Tree for 32:

Factors of 32 can be written in both positive pairs and negative pairs. They are like team members. Their product will be equal to the number given.

• Positive Factor Pairs: (1,32), (2,16), (4,8)

• Negative Factor Pairs:  (-1,-32), (-2,-16), (-4,-8)
   

• Whole Number: Numbers starting from zero.

• Factors: Numbers that divide the given number, leaving zero as the remainder.

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

• Prime Factorization: Process of breaking down the prime factors.

• Factor Tree: A tree diagram used to represent the prime factors of a given number

• Multiple: Numbers we get when another number multiplies the given number.