Last updated on May 26th, 2025
Prime numbers define those numbers that have 2 factors (1 and number itself). These numbers can be used in computer security or cryptography, designing computer algorithms, etc. We will know more about Prime numbers and check whether 6 is a prime number or not.
Numbers can be either prime or composite. 6 is not a prime number, since factors of 6 are 1,2,3 and 6. That means it is not a prime number. So, we can say that 6 is a composite number.
We will now check through various methods that if 6 is a prime number or not. Let’s proceed.
The only condition this method involves is that a particular number is prime if and only if it has two distinct integers as its divisors. In case of 6, the distinct divisors are: 1,2,3, and 6. Hence, there exist more than two divisors of 6.
Hence, 6 is not prime.
In the divisibility method, we have to check 6 with different numbers whether 6 is divisible or not. The rule is, if 6 is divisible by any number that falls between 2 and the square root of 6 itself, it is composite.
Testing the same in case of 6:
Step 1: Checking divisibility by 2
Any even number is divisible by 2. Also, the square root of 6 is less than 3, so no need to check divisibility greater than 2.
6/2 =3. So, 6 is perfectly divisible by 2.
We can conclude that 6 is not a prime number and 6 is divisible by numbers other than 1 and 6.
The list of prime numbers up to 30 are → 2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19, 23,29
Following the above chart for reference, we can see that 6 is not in the list. Hence, 6 is not a prime number
Prime factorization of 6
6 = 2×3
6 is being easily factored into smaller factors, clearly making it a composite number.
Wrong concept of Prime numbers can lead to mathematical errors. So, let us see some common error which we should avoid making.
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.