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Last updated on April 22nd, 2025
The numbers that have only two factors, which are 1 and itself, are called prime numbers. Prime numbers are crucial in fields such as encryption, computer algorithms, and barcode generation. In this topic, we will be discussing whether 560 is a prime number or not.
There are two types of numbers, mostly —
prime numbers and composite numbers, depending on the number of factors.
A prime number is a natural number that is divisible only by 1 and itself.
For example, 3 is a prime number because it is divisible by 1 and itself.
A composite number is a positive number that is divisible by more than two numbers.
For example, 6 is divisible by 1, 2, 3, and 6, making it a composite number.
Prime numbers follow few properties like-
The characteristic of a prime number is that it has only two divisors: 1 and itself. Since 560 has more than two factors, it is not a prime number. Few methods are used to distinguish between prime and composite numbers. A few methods are:
The method in which we count the number of divisors to categorize the numbers as prime or composite is called the counting divisors method. Based on the count of the divisors, we categorize prime and composite numbers. If there is a total count of only 2 divisors, then the number would be prime. If the count is more than 2, then the number is composite. Let’s check whether 560 is prime or composite.
Step 1: All numbers are divisible by 1 and itself.
Step 2: Divide 560 by 2. It is divisible by 2, so 2 is a factor of 560.
Step 3: Divide 560 by 3. It is not divisible by 3, so 3 is not a factor of 560.
Step 4: You can simplify checking divisors up to 560 by finding the root value. We then need to only check divisors up to the root value.
Step 5: When we divide 560 by 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and more, it is divisible by these.
Since 560 has more than 2 divisors, it is a composite number.
We use a set of rules to check whether a number is divisible by another number completely or not. It is called the Divisibility Test Method.
Divisibility by 2: The number in the ones' place value is 0. Zero is an even number, which means that 560 is divisible by 2.
Divisibility by 3: The sum of the digits in the number 560 is 11. Since 11 is not divisible by 3, 560 is also not divisible by 3.
Divisibility by 5: The unit’s place digit is 0. Therefore, 560 is divisible by 5.
Divisibility by 7: The last digit in 560 is 0. To check divisibility by 7, double the last digit (0 × 2 = 0). Then, subtract it from the rest of the number (56 - 0 = 56). Since 56 is divisible by 7, 560 is also divisible by 7.
Divisibility by 11: In 560, the sum of the digits in odd positions is 5 and the sum of the digits in even positions is 6. This would mean that 560 is not divisible by 11.
Since 560 is divisible by several numbers, it has more than two factors. Therefore, it is a composite number.
The prime number chart is a tool created by using a method called “The Sieve of Eratosthenes.” In this method, we follow the following steps.
Step 1: Write 1 to 100 in 10 rows and 10 columns.
Step 2: Leave 1 without coloring or crossing, as it is neither prime nor composite.
Step 3: Mark 2 because it is a prime number and cross out all the multiples of 2.
Step 4: Mark 3 because it is a prime number and cross out all the multiples of 3.
Step 5: Repeat this process until you reach the table consisting of marked and crossed boxes, except 1. Through this process, we will have a list of prime numbers from 1 to 100.
The list is 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, and 97. 560 is not present in the list of prime numbers, so it is a composite number.
Prime factorization is a process of breaking down a number into prime factors. Then multiply those factors to obtain the original number.
Step 1: We can write 560 as 2 × 280.
Step 2: In 2 × 280, 280 is a composite number. Further, break the 280 into 2 × 140.
Step 3: Continue breaking down until we have only prime numbers.
Hence, the prime factorization of 560 is 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 7.
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.