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Last updated on April 7th, 2025
The numbers that have only two factors which are 1 and itself are called prime numbers. For encryption, computer algorithms, barcode generation, prime numbers are used. In this topic, we will be discussing whether 905 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 905 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
Let’s check whether 905 is prime or composite.
Step 1: All numbers are divisible by 1 and itself.
Step 2: Divide 905 by 2. It is not divisible by 2, so 2 is not a factor of 905.
Step 3: Divide 905 by 3. It is not divisible by 3, so 3 is not a factor of 905.
Step 4: You can simplify checking divisors up to 905 by finding the root value. We then need to only check divisors up to the root value.
Step 5: When we divide 905 by 5, it is divisible.
Since 905 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 5. It is not an even number, which means that 905 is not divisible by 2.
Divisibility by 3: The sum of the digits in the number 905 is 14. Since 14 is not divisible by 3, 905 is also not divisible by 3.
Divisibility by 5: The unit’s place digit is 5. Therefore, 905 is divisible by 5.
Divisibility by 7: The last digit in 905 is 5. To check divisibility by 7, double the last digit (5 × 2 = 10). Then, subtract it from the rest of the number (90 - 10 = 80). Since 80 is not divisible by 7, 905 is also not divisible by 7.
Divisibility by 11: In 905, the sum of the digits in odd positions is 14, and the sum of the digits in even positions is 0. This would mean that 905 is not divisible by 11.
Since 905 is divisible by 5, 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 1000 in rows and 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 1000.
905 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 905 as 5 × 181.
Step 2: In 5 × 181, 5 is a prime number, and 181 is also a prime number.
Step 3: Now we get the product consisting of only prime numbers.
Hence, the prime factorization of 905 is 5 × 181.
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.