5 Prime Time FPO

Base line test

In this chapter, you will learn to

• grasp the concepts of factors and multiples of numbers.
• find common factors and common multiples between numbers.
• categorise numbers as prime, composite, even,
or odd.
• use divisibility rules for numbers 2 to 11 to check for division
without calculating.
• find prime numbers between given
• ranges, including using the Sieve of Eratosthenes.
• perform prime factorisation to find the ‘building blocks’ of composite
numbers.
• understand general properties of divisibility and identify co-prime numbers.

Real-Life Connect

Welcome to the fascinating world of numbers—where hidden patterns govern everything from the games we
play to the rhythms of nature. Numbers are not merely symbols; they possess unique properties that help us
decode the universe.
Look closely at the image of the cicada. These insects are nature’s mathematicians. Some species stay
underground for exactly 13 or 17 years before emerging. Why these specific numbers? It is because 13 and 17
are prime numbers. By emerging at these prime intervals, they minimise the chance of meeting predators with
regular life cycles like 2, 3, or 4 years. This survival strategy is a brilliant application of factors and multiples
in the wild.
In this chapter, you will learn to think like a mathematician to understand these numerical relationships. We
shall explore common multiples and factors through games, discover the building blocks of all numbers using
prime factorisation, and master the Sieve of Eratosthenes. From identifying co-prime numbers to unlocking the
secrets of divisibility tests, get ready to explore how these fundamental concepts shape our world.
 5.1 Common Multiples and Common Factors
We use the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, … to count objects. These are known as counting numbers or natural numbers.
When we include 0 along with all the natural numbers, we obtain a larger set called whole numbers.
Thus, the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, … are referred to as whole numbers.
Whole numbers follow consistent patterns when we perform basic operations. For example, adding any two whole
numbers always results in another whole number. Operations such as subtraction, multiplication, and division
(except division by zero) can be demonstrated on a number line, which helps us visualise how values increase or
decrease.
Factors of a Number Maths Talk
To understand factors, let us look at the number 6.
We can express 6 as a product of two whole numbers in The concept of '0' was first used by the
several ways: Indian mathematician Aryabhatta in the
5th century. Later, in the 7th century,
6=1×6
Brahmagupta gave a set of rules on how
6=2×3 to use 0.
6=3×2
From these expressions, we see that multiplying 1, 2, 3, or 6 in different pairs gives the product 6. Each of these
numbers divides 6 exactly, with no remainder.
Therefore, 1, 2, 3, and 6 are called factors or divisors of 6.

A factor of a number is always less than or equal to the number.

So, the factors of 6 are: 1, 2, 3, and 6
Now, let us identify the numbers that divide 4 exactly.
Keep in mind:
A number can only be divisible by numbers less than or equal to itself.
No number can be exactly divisible by a number greater than itself.
So, we check all numbers from 1 to 4.
a. 4
1 4 Maths Talk
–4
0 Why is zero not considered a factor of any number?
Can a factor of a number ever be greater than the
Quotient = 4, Remainder = 0 number itself?
∴4=1×4
b. 2
2 4
–4
0
Quotient = 2, Remainder = 0
∴4=2×2

c. 1
3 4
–3
1
Quotient = 1, Remainder = 1
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d. 1
4 4
–4
0
Quotient = 1, Remainder = 0
∴4=4×1
From the divisions shown earlier, we can see that 1, 2, and 4 divide 4 exactly. Hence, these numbers are the
factors of 4.
A factor of a number is any number that divides it completely, leaving no remainder.
For example, each of the numbers 1, 2, 7, and 14 divides 14 exactly:
14 ÷ 1 = 14
14 ÷ 2 = 7
14 ÷ 7 = 2 Maths Talk
14 ÷ 14 = 1
Why is the list of factors for a
Therefore, 1, 2, 7, and 14 are the factors of 14.
number finite (limited), but the list
Properties of Factors of multiples is infinite (unending)?

1. A factor cannot be greater than the number itself.

Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 (all are ≤ 12)
Factors of 36: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36 (all are ≤ 36)
2. Every number greater than 1 has at least two factors – 1 and the number itself.
Factors of 7: 1, 7
Factors of 13: 1, 13
3. The number 1 is a factor of every whole number.
Since 1 divides all numbers exactly,
1 is a factor of 5, 20, 100, and every other number. Maths Talk
4. Every number is a factor of itself.
Since 9 ÷ 9 = 1, Why does every number greater than 1
have at least two factors?
9 is a factor of 9.
5. Zero is not a factor of any number.
Division by zero is not possible (e.g., 5 ÷ 0 cannot be done),
so 0 is not a factor of any number.
6. If a number is a factor of another, it divides the number exactly.
For example, 4 is a factor of 20 because 20 ÷ 4 = 5 with no remainder.

Multiples
When we multiply a number by 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on, the results we obtain are called the multiples of that number.
Let us consider the number 4 and multiply it by different whole numbers:
4×1=4
4×2=8
4 × 3 = 12
4 × 4 = 16
4 × 5 = 20 99
 So, the multiples of 4 are: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, … and they continue in the same pattern.
Now, let us look at the number 5:
5×1=5
5 × 2 = 10
5 × 3 = 15
5 × 4 = 20
5 × 5 = 25
Therefore, the first few multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, …
Multiples can also be understood through skip counting.
For example, counting as 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, … means we are skip counting by 3, and each of these numbers is a
multiple of 3.
A number has infinitely many multiples because we can keep multiplying it by larger and larger whole numbers. The
number itself is always its first multiple.

Properties of Multiples
1. There is no greatest multiple of any number.
We can always multiply by a larger whole number.
Multiples of 6 include:
6 × 1 = 6, 6 × 2 = 12, 6 × 3 = 18, 6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 5 = 30, 6 × 6 = 36,
6 × 7 = 42, 6 × 8 = 48, 6 × 9 = 54, 6 × 10 = 60, 6 × 11 = 66,
6 × 12 = 72, 6 × 13 = 78, 6 × 14 = 84, 6 × 15 = 90
This list can continue as far as we choose.
2. Every number is a multiple of itself.
Examples:
6×1=6
8×1=8
17 × 1 = 17
26 × 1 = 26
3. Zero is a multiple of every number.
For instance:
9 × 0 = 0, so 0 is a multiple of 9.
11 × 0 = 0, so 0 is a multiple of 11.
4. Multiples are always equal to or greater than the number.
For example, the multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 12, 16, … — never smaller than 4.

Common Factors and Multiples

Common Factors
When two or more numbers share the same factors, those shared factors are called common factors.
For example:
Factors of 18 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18
Factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Therefore, the common factors of 18 and 12 are 1, 2, 3, and 6.
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Common Multiples
When two or more numbers have the same multiples, these shared values are known as common multiples.
For example:
Multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, …
Multiples of 6 are 6, 12, 18, 24, 28, …
So, the common multiples of 4 and 6 are 12 and 24.

Example 1: Write down all the factors for each of the following.
a. 14 b. 36 c. 105
Solution: a. 14 = 1 × 14
14 = 2 × 7
Hence, the factors of 14 are 1, 2, 7 and 14.
b. 36 = 1 × 36
36 = 2 × 18
36 = 3 × 12
36 = 4 × 9
36 = 6 × 6
So, the factors of 36 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36.
c. 105 = 1 × 105
105 = 3 × 35
105 = 5 × 21
105 = 7 × 15.
Hence, the factors of 105 are 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, 21, 35 and 105.
Example 2: Write first five multiples of:
a. 14 b. 17
Solution: a. The first five multiples of 14 are: b. The first five multiples of 17 are:
14 × 1 = 14 17 × 1 = 17
14 × 2 = 28 17 × 2 = 34
14 × 3 = 42 17 × 3 = 51
14 × 4 = 56 17 × 4 = 68
14 × 5 = 70 17 × 5 = 85
Example 3: Find all the multiples of 5 between 62 and 94.
Solution: 5 × 13 = 65
5 × 14 = 70
5 × 15 = 75
5 × 16 = 80
5 × 17 = 85
5 × 18 = 90
These numbers are multiples of 5. But 62 and 94 are not between 60 and 95.
Thus, the required multiples of 5 are 65, 70, 75, 80, 85 and 90.
Example 4: Write the common factors of 4, 8 and 12.
Solution: Factors of 4 are: 1, 2, and 4
Factors of 8 are: 1, 2, 4, 8
Factors of 12 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12
Common factors of 4, 8 and 12 are 1, 2 and 4.

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 Example 5: Find the common factors of 36, 84.
Solution: Factors of 36 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36
Factors of 84 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12, 14, 21, 28, 42, 84
Common factors of 36 and 84 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.
Example 6: Find the first two common multiples of 5, 15 and 20
Solution: Multiples of 5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105,
110, 115, 120, ...
Multiples of 15: 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, ...
Multiples of 20: 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, ...
The common multiples are 60 and 120.

Exercise 5.1

1. Find all the factors of:

a. 18 b. 36 c. 40 d. 45
e. 72 f. 20 g. 16 h. 27
2. Is 7 a factor of 42? Explain why or why not.
3. Which of the numbers 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 are factors of 25?
4. Write down the first five multiples of 7.
5. Is 56 a multiple of 8? Explain why or why not?
6. List the multiples of 9 that are less than 50.
7. Find all the common factors of 12 and 18.
8. Write down the first three common multiples of 3 and 5.
9. Find the common multiples of the following numbers:
a. 3, 4, 5 b. 16, 18 c. 12, 24
10. Find the common factors of the following numbers:
a. 54, 108 b. 36, 48 c. 90, 80
11. Find all the multiples of 9 that lie between 50 and 90.
12. Find a number which is less than 40. One of its factor is 7 and the digit sum of that number is 8.
13. Find a number less than 100. Two of its factors are 4 and 9. One of its digits is 5 more than the other.
14. Write down all the factors of each of the following.
a. 50 b. 26 c. 90 d. 56 e. 25
15. Write down first five multiples of each of the following.
a. 8 b. 9 c. 13
d. 11 e. 12 f. 15

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5.2 Prime Numbers
Prime numbers Maths Talk
A prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that has exactly two
distinct positive factors: 1 and the number itself. Why is 1 neither prime nor
composite?
Examples: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, …
They are essential in number theory and form the basis of unique
factorisation. Practical applications include cryptography (secure communications), hashing and certain algorithms
in computer science.
2 is the only even prime number. All other even numbers are divisible by 2 and so has at least three factors
(1, 2 and itself).
All other primes are odd. That follows immediately because any even number greater than 2 is composite.
Primes are the building blocks of whole numbers. By the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, every integer
greater than 1 can be written uniquely as a product of primes (up to the order of factors).
Example: 84 = 22 × 3 × 7.
There are infinitely many primes. Euclid’s classical proof shows that no finite list of primes can include them all.

Composite number
A composite number is a whole number greater than 1 that has more than two positive factors. In other words, it
has at least one divisor other than 1 and itself. Examples: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, …
Every composite number can be written as a product of primes (prime factorisation).
Example: 72=23 × 32
Squares of primes are composite. Example: 112 = 121
Products of different primes are composite. Example: 2 × 3 = 6

Twin primes
A pair of primes p and q are called twin primes if they differ by 2.
Typical examples are (3, 5), (5, 7), (11, 13), (17, 19), (29, 31).
(3, 5) and (5, 7) are twin primes — note the overlap: 5 appears in both pairs.
Not all small prime pairs are twin primes.
Example: (7, 11) differ by 4, so they are not twin primes.

Sieve of Eratosthenes: A Method to Find Prime Numbers up to 100

One of the oldest and most efficient techniques for identifying prime numbers is the Sieve of Eratosthenes, named
after the Greek mathematician Eratosthenes, who lived more than 2200 years ago. This method helps us separate
prime numbers from composite numbers in a systematic and visual manner. Follow the steps below to understand
how it works:
Step 1: Prepare a 10 × 10 grid and write the numbers from 1 to 100 in order.
Step 2: Cross out 1, as it is a special number. It is neither prime nor composite.
Step 3: Circle 2, which is the first prime number. Now strike out every multiple of 2 (except 2 itself), as all these
numbers are divisible by 2 and therefore composite.

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 Step 4: Move to the next number that is not crossed out, which is
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3. Circle it to mark it as prime. Then cross out all multiples of 3,
since these cannot be prime. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Step 5: Continue scanning the grid until you reach 5, the next 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
uncrossed number. Circle it as a prime number, and once again
eliminate all multiples of 5 from the grid. 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Step 6: Repeat this pattern: 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Find the next uncrossed number. 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
Circle it (as it is prime).
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
Cross out all its multiples.
You continue this process until every number in the grid is either 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

circled (prime) or crossed out (composite). 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

By the end of this systematic elimination, all circled numbers
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
represent prime numbers, while the crossed-out numbers, apart
from 1, are composite.
This method is not limited to 100—you can extend the same steps to identify prime numbers beyond 100 as well.
Example 1: Express each of the following as the sum of two prime numbers
a. 38 b. 40 c. 16
Solution: a. 38
Let’s try subtracting prime numbers from 38 and see if the result is also prime:
38 – 2 = 36 (36 is not prime)
38 – 3 = 35 (35 is not prime)
38 – 5 = 33 (33 is not prime) Maths Talk
38 – 7 = 31 (31 is prime)
So, 38 = 7 + 31 Why is 1 excluded when identifying
prime numbers using the Sieve of
b. 40
Eratosthenes method?
40 – 2 = 38 (38 is not prime)
40 – 3 = 37 (37 is prime)
So, 40 = 3 + 37
Another possible answer for 40
40 – 7 = 33 (33 is not prime)
40 – 11 = 29 (29 is prime)
So, 40 = 11 + 29
c. 16
16 – 2 = 14 (14 is not prime)
16 – 3 = 13 (13 is prime)
So, 16=3+13
Another possible answer for 16
16 – 5 = 11 (11 is a prime number)
So, 16 = 5 + 11 (This is also a valid answer)
Example 2: Write seven consecutive numbers, none of which is prime.
Solution: Seven consecutive numbers, none of which is prime, are 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96.
We can find them with the help of Eratosthenes Sieve.

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Example 3: Write 84 as the sum of twin primes.
Solution: To express 84 as the sum of twin primes, we need to find two prime numbers that differ by 2 and add
up to 84.
Let’s list some twin prime pairs: (3, 5), (5, 7), (11, 13), (17, 19), (29, 31), (41, 43), (59, 61), (71, 73)
Now, find out a pair that sums to 84.
Consider the twin prime pair (41, 43).
41 + 43 = 84
Both 41 and 43 are prime numbers, and they differ by 2, making them a twin prime pair.
Therefore, 84 can be expressed as the sum of the twin primes 41 and 43.

5.3 Co-prime numbers for safekeeping treasures

Co-prime numbers
Two numbers are co-prime (also written coprime) if their only common positive factor is 1.
In other words, their greatest common divisor (GCD) is 1.
Examples of co-prime pairs: (2, 3), (4, 5), (9, 10), (11, 16), (14, 15).
Any pair that includes 1 is co-prime with the other number (for example (1, 7)).
Two consecutive integers are always co-prime (for example (14, 15)).
Co-prime does not mean both numbers must be prime. For example, (8, 9) are co-prime even though neither
is prime.
If two numbers share any prime factor (for example both divisible by 3), they are not co-prime.
Three reliable methods to check whether two numbers are co-prime
Method 1 — List factors
List all positive factors of each number.
Compare the lists.
If the only common factor is 1, the numbers are co-prime; otherwise, they are not.
Example: Are 14 and 15 co-prime?
Factors of 14: 1, 2, 7, 14
Factors of 15: 1, 3, 5, 15 Maths Talk
Common factors: only 1 ⇒ co-prime. Do two numbers have to be
Method 2 — Prime factorisation prime to be 'co-prime'?
Write each number as a product of prime powers.
If they share no prime factor, they are co-prime. If they share at least one prime, they are not.
Example: Are 48 and 75 co-prime?
Both contain the prime 3 ⇒ they are not co-prime (GCD ≥ 3).
Method 3 — Euclid’s algorithm
Euclid’s algorithm finds the GCD of two integers; if the GCD is 1 they are co-prime.
Algorithm (step-by-step):
To find gcd(a, b) where a ≥ b:
1. Divide a by b and find the remainder r .
2. Replace a with b and b with r.
3. Repeat until the remainder is 0.
4. The last non-zero remainder is gcd(a, b). If that gcd = 1, the numbers are co-prime.

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 Example 1 — (14, 15)
Let a = 15, b = 14.
15 ÷ 14 = 1 remainder 1 → r = 1
Replace: a ← 14, b ← 1
14 ÷ 1 = 14 remainder 0 → r = 0 → stop.
Last non-zero remainder = 1 ⇒ gcd(14, 15) = 1 ⇒ co-prime.
Example 2 — (64, 35)
Let a = 64, b = 35.
64 ÷ 35 = 1 remainder 29. (64 = 35 × 1 + 29)
Replace: a ← 35, b ← 29.
35 ÷ 29 = 1 remainder 6. (35 = 29 × 1 + 6)
Replace: a ← 29, b ← 6.
29 ÷ 6 = 4 remainder 5. (29 = 6 × 4 + 5)
Replace: a ← 6, b ← 5.
6 ÷ 5 = 1 remainder 1. (6 = 5 × 1 + 1)
Replace: a ← 5, b ← 1.
5 ÷ 1 = 5 remainder 0. (5 = 1 × 5 + 0) → stop.
Last non-zero remainder = 1 ⇒ gcd(64, 35) = 1 ⇒ co-prime.
Example 3 — (48, 75)
Let a = 75, b = 48.
75 ÷ 48 = 1 remainder 27. (75 = 48 × 1 + 27)
Replace: a ← 48, b ← 27.
48 ÷ 27 = 1 remainder 21. (48 = 27 × 1 + 21)
Replace: a ← 27, b ← 21.
27 ÷ 21 = 1 remainder 6. (27 = 21 × 1 + 6)
Replace: a ← 21, b ← 6.
21 ÷ 6 = 3 remainder 3. (21 = 6 × 3 + 3)
Replace: a ← 6, b ← 3.
6 ÷ 3 = 2 remainder 0. (6 = 3 × 2 + 0) → stop.
Last non-zero remainder = 3 ⇒ gcd(48, 75) = 3 ⇒ not co-prime.

Exercise 5.2

1. From the following list, identify the Even numbers and Odd numbers:
15, 22, 37, 40, 51, 68, 73, 90
2. Classify each of the following numbers as Prime or Composite:
a. 2 b. 9 c. 13 d. 25
e. 31 f. 49
3. Determine if each pair of numbers is co-prime.
a. (4, 9) b. (10, 15) c. (17, 20) d. (6, 12)

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 4. From the following list of prime numbers, identify all the twin prime pairs:
3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31
5. What is the only Prime Triplet?
6. Is 28 a perfect number?
7. Express each of the following as the sum of two prime numbers:
a. 20 b. 28 c. 50
8. Express the following as the sum of twin primes:
a. 8 b. 24
9. Write down four consecutive numbers, none of which is prime.
10. True or False:
a. All even numbers are composite numbers.
b. The product of two prime numbers is always a composite number.
c. Every composite number has at least three factors.
d. All odd numbers are prime numbers.
e. If two numbers are co-prime, they must both be prime numbers.
11. Find a number less than 30 that is composite and a multiple of 5.
12. Find a prime number between 50 and 60.
13. If a number is a multiple of 2 and 3, what else is it a multiple of? Is it always an even number?
14. What is the smallest pair of co-prime numbers (other than a number and 1)?
15. A number has factors 1, 2, 4, 8. What type of number is it (prime, composite, even, odd)? Is it a
perfect number?

5.4 Prime Factorisation

Let us write the factors of 24. We can break it down, or factorise it, in several different ways:
a. 24 = 2 × 12
b. 24 = 8 × 3 Maths Talk
c. 24 = 4 × 6
Can a number have more than
d. 24 = 2 × 2 × 6 one set of prime factors?
e. 24 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3
In examples (a), (b), (c), and (d), some of the factors can still be split into smaller numbers. However, in (e), every
factor—2, 2, 2, and 3—is a prime number, meaning that none of them can be broken down any further. These are
called the prime factors of 24.
This method of expressing a number as a product of prime numbers is known as prime factorisation. It helps us
understand the basic building blocks of a composite number.
An important fact is that every composite number can be factorised into primes in one and only one way, apart
from the order in which the prime factors are written. This is known as the Unique Factorisation Theorem or the
Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic.

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 Example 1: Find the prime factorisation of 96.
Solution:  We use division method as shown below:
2 96
2 48
2 24
2 12
2 6
3 3
1
∴ 96 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3
Thus, the prime factorisation of 96 is 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3.
Example 2: Find the prime factorisation of 72.
Solution: We use division method as shown below:
2 72
2 36
2 18
3 9
3 3
1
∴ 72 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3
Thus, the prime factorisation of 72 is 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3
Example 3: Express as the product of prime factors of the following:
a. 1331 b. 729
Solution:  Using long division method: We use division method as shown below:
a. 1331
11 1331
11 121
11 11
1
∴ 1331 = 11 × 11 × 11
Thus, the prime factorisation of 1331 is 11 × 11 × 11
b. 729
3 729
3 243
3 81
3 27
3 9
3 3
1
∴ 729 = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3

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Example 4: Write the greatest 4-digit number and express it as the product of primes.
Solution:  The greatest 4-digit number = 9999
3 9999
3 3333
11 1111
101 101

1
∴ 9999 = 3 × 3 × 11 × 101
Example 5: Write the smallest 5-digit number and express it as the product of primes.
Solution:  The smallest 5-digit number = 10000
2 10000
2 5000
2 2500
2 1250
5 625
5 125
5 25
5 5

1
∴ 10000 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 × 5 × 5
Example 6: The prime factorisation of a number has 2 one, two 3s and one 11. Also, write the number?
Solution:  Here, the prime factorisation of a number has 2 one, two 3s and one 11.
Thus, the required number = 2 × 3 × 3 × 11 = 198
Example 7: Find the prime factorisation of these numbers without multiplying first:
a. 56 × 25 b. 108 × 75 c. 1000 × 81
Solution:  The prime factorisation of the product of two numbers is the product of prime factorisations of both
numbers.
a. 56 × 25
By using factor tree method:
56
25
2 28
5 5
2 14

2 7
Prime factorisation of 56 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 7
Prime factorisation of 25 = 5 × 5
Thus, the prime factorisation of 56 × 25 is 2 × 2 × 2 × 7 × 5 × 5.

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 b. 108 × 75
By using factor tree method:
108

2 54 75

2 27 3 25

3 9 5 5

3 3

Prime factorisation of 108 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 3

Prime factorisation of 75 = 3 × 5 × 5
Thus, the prime factorisation of 108 × 75 is 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 5 × 5.
c. 1000 × 81
By using factor tree method:

1000 81

2 500 3 27

2 250 3 9

2 125 3 3

5 25

5 5

Prime factorisation of 1000 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 × 5

Prime factorisation of 81 = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3
Thus, the prime factorisation of 1000 × 81 is 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 × 5 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3.
Example 8: Write three prime numbers less than 30, whose product is 1955.
Solution:  Using factor three method, let us find prime factorisation of 1955 as given below:
1955

5 391

17 23

∴ 1955 = 5 × 17 × 23
Thus, the required prime numbers are 5, 17 and 23.

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Example 9: Write two numbers whose product is 500. The two numbers should not have 0 as the units digit.
Solution:  Using factor three method, let us find prime factorisation of 500 as given below:
500

2 250

2 125

5 25

5
5
∴ 500 = (2 × 2) × (5 × 5 × 5) = 4 × 125

5.5 Divisibility Tests

Divisibility Rules

Test of Divisibility by 2
A number is divisible by 2, if the digit in the ones place (units digit) is 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8. Numbers ending in these
digits are called even numbers.
Examples
40, 22, 54, 486, 648 are divisible by 2 because each ends in an even digit.
57, 87, 105, 457, 813 are not divisible by 2 because their ones digit is odd.
Explanation
If you observe the numbers divisible by 2, they all finish with even digits. When divided by 2, they leave no remainder,
which is the key characteristic of numbers divisible by 2.

Test of Divisibility by 3
A number is divisible by 3, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
Examples
For 171:
Sum of digits = 1 + 7 + 1 = 9, and 9 is divisible by 3.
Therefore, 171 is divisible by 3.
For 301:
Sum of digits = 3 + 0 + 1 = 4, and 4 is not divisible by 3.
Therefore, 301 is not divisible by 3.
Explanation
This test works because any number can be broken down into sums of tens and ones that follow predictable
behaviour under division by 3. If the total digit sum divides exactly by 3, so does the number itself.

Test of Divisibility by 4
A number is divisible by 4, if the number formed by its last two digits (tens and units digits) is divisible by 4.

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 Examples
For 732: Maths Talk
Last two digits = 32, and 32 ÷ 4 = 8 (exact).
Hence, 732 is divisible by 4. Why do we only look at the last two
digits to check if a massive number
For 204: is divisible by 4?
Last two digits = 04, and 4 ÷ 4 = 1 (exact).
Hence, 204 is divisible by 4.
Important Note
For 1-digit or 2-digit numbers, you must check divisibility by 4 through actual division.
The shortcut works reliably for three-digit numbers and above.

Test of Divisibility by 5
A number is divisible by 5, if its ones digit is 0 or 5.
Examples
25, 60, 95, 160, 285, 2005 are divisible by 5.
48, 69, 79, 169, 243, 2108 are not divisible by 5 because they do not end in 0 or 5.
Explanation
The pattern arises because 10 and 5 form the base of our number system; only numbers ending in 0 or 5 fall
exactly on multiples of 5.

Test of Divisibility by 6
A number is divisible by 6, only if it is divisible by both 2 and 3.
Example 1 – Divisible by 6
Number: 150
Ends in 0 → divisible by 2
Digit sum: 1 + 5 + 0 = 6 → divisible by 3
Therefore, 150 is divisible by 6.
Example 2 – Not divisible by 6
Number: 15634
Ends in 4 → divisible by 2
Digit sum = 1 + 5 + 6 + 3 + 4 = 19, not divisible by 3
So, the number is divisible by 2 but not by 3 → not divisible by 6.
Explanation
Six is the product of 2 and 3.
Thus, a number must satisfy both divisibility rules to be divisible by 6.

Test of Divisibility by 7
A number is divisible by 7, if twice the digit in the ones place, subtracted from the number formed by the remaining
digits, gives a number that is 0 or a multiple of 7.
Step-by-step Examples
1001
Ones digit = 1
Twice the ones digit = 2
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Remaining digits = 100
100 – 2 = 98, divisible by 7
→ 1001 is divisible by 7.
157
Ones digit = 7
Twice = 14
Remaining digits = 15
15 – 14 = 1, not a multiple of 7
→ 157 is not divisible by 7.
1449
Ones digit = 9
Twice = 18
Remaining digits = 144
144 – 18 = 126, divisible by 7
→ 1449 is divisible by 7.
Explanation
This test rewrites the number as
10a + b, where the last digit is b.

Test of Divisibility by 8
A number is divisible by 8, if the last three digits (hundreds, tens, and ones digits) form a number divisible by 8.
Examples
1456 → last three digits = 456
456 ÷ 8 = 57 (exact) → divisible
67358 → last three digits = 358
358 ÷ 8 = not exact → not divisible
8104 → last three digits = 104
104 ÷ 8 = 13 (exact) → divisible
Explanation
Since 1000 is divisible by 8, all larger place values are automatically multiples of 8.
Thus, only the last three digits determine divisibility.

Test of Divisibility by 9
A number is divisible by 9, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
Examples
891
Sum = 8 + 9 + 1 = 18, divisible by 9 → 891 is divisible by 9.
54388
Sum = 5 + 4 + 3 + 8 + 8 = 28, not divisible by 9 → not divisible.
90072.
Sum = 9 + 0 + 0 + 7 + 2 = 18, divisible by 9, the number 90072 is also divisible by 9.
Explanation
As with the rule for 3, the behaviour of multiples of 9 ensures that digit sums reflect divisibility.
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 Test of Divisibility by 10
A number is divisible by 10, if its ones digit (units place) is 0.
Examples
50 → ones digit = 0
50 ÷ 10 = 5 (exact) → divisible
600 → ones digit = 0
600 ÷ 10 = 60 (exact) → divisible
1900 → ones digit = 0
1900 ÷ 10 = 190 (exact) → divisible
856 → ones digit = 6
→ not divisible
2142 → ones digit = 2
→ not divisible
Explanation
Every multiple of 10 ends in 0.
If the last digit is anything other than 0, the number cannot be divided exactly by 10.
Thus, checking only the ones digit is enough to decide divisibility.

Test of Divisibility by 11
A number is divisible by 11, if the difference between (sum of digits in odd places) and (sum of digits in even
places) counting from the ones place, is either 0 or a multiple of 11.
Examples
1. Number: 308
Odd-place digits (from right): 8 + 3 = 11
Even-place digits: 0
Difference = 11 − 0 = 11, which is divisible by 11
→ 308 is divisible by 11
2. Number: 74115
Odd-place digits: 5 + 1 + 7 = 13
Even-place digits: 1 + 4 = 5
Difference = 13 − 5 = 8, not divisible by 11
→ 74115 is not divisible by 11
3. Number: 36289
Odd-place digits: 9 + 2 + 3 = 14
Even-place digits: 8 + 6 = 14
Difference = 14 − 14 = 0, which is divisible by 11
→ 36289 is divisible by 11
Explanation
This rule works because powers of 10 alternate between
+1 and –1 when divided by 11.
Thus, subtracting the two sums reveals whether the number is a multiple of 11.

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General Properties of Divisibility
Property 1:
If a number is divisible by another number, it is also divisible by all the factors of that number.
Examples
24 is divisible by 12.
Factors of 12 → 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Since 24 ÷ 12 is exact, 24 must also be divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.
30 is divisible by 10.
Factors of 10 → 1, 2, 5, 10
Thus, 30 is divisible by 1, 2, 5, and 10.
Explanation
If a number contains a larger number as a factor, it must also contain all the smaller factors that together form it.
Property 2:
If a number is divisible by two co-prime numbers, it must also be divisible by their product.
Example
42 is divisible by 3 and 7.
Since 3 and 7 are co-prime, their product is 3 × 7 = 21.
Therefore, 42 is divisible by 21 as well.
Notes
a. Any two prime numbers are always co-prime.
So, if a number is divisible by two prime numbers, it is automatically divisible by their product.
b. Since 3 and 5 are co-prime, any number divisible by both 3 and 5 must be divisible by 15.
Explanation
Co-prime numbers share no common factors except 1.
Thus, divisibility by both means divisibility by the combined product.
Property 3:
If a number is a factor of two numbers, it is also a factor of their sum.
Example
13 is a factor of both 39 and 52.
Sum: 39 + 52 = 91
Since 13 divides 91 exactly,
→ 13 is a factor of their sum.
Explanation
If a number divides two quantities exactly, adding those quantities keeps the result divisible by the same number.
Property 4:
If a number is a factor of two numbers, it is also a factor of their difference.
Examples
12 is a factor of both 60 and 96.
Difference = 96 − 60 = 36
Since 12 divides 36 exactly,
→ 12 is a factor of their difference.

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 14 is a factor of both 70 and 98.
Difference = 98 − 70 = 28
Since 14 divides 28 exactly,
→ 14 is a factor of their difference.
Explanation
If a number divides two quantities completely, subtracting them removes equal multiples, leaving a number still
divisible by the same factor.
Example 1: Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 2.
a. 5048 b. 423367 c. 36454
Solution:  To test the divisibility of a number by 2, we only need to look at its last digit. If the last digit is an even
number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8), the entire number is divisible by 2. Let’s apply this rule to the given numbers:
a. 5048
the last digit is 8, which is an even number.
5048 is divisible by 2.
b. 423367
the last digit is 7, which is an odd number.
423367 is not divisible by 2.
c. 36454
the last digit is 4, which is an even number.
36454 is divisible by 2.
Example 2: Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 3.
a. 963 b. 548 c. 5382
Solution:  We know that, a number is divisible by 3, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
a. 963
Sum of the digits = 9 + 6 + 3 = 18, which is divisible by 3.
Thus, 963 is divisible by 3.
b. 548
Sum of the digits = 5 + 4 + 8 = 17, which is not divisible by 3.
Thus, 548 is not divisible by 3.
c. 5382
Sum of the digits = 5 + 3 + 8 + 2 = 18, which is divisible by 3.
Thus, 5382 is divisible by 3.
Example 3: In each of the following numbers, replace by * by the smallest number to make it divisible by 3.
a. 538* b. 23*4 c. 9*134
Solution:  We know that, a number is divisible by 3, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
a. 538*:
The sum of the known digits is 5+3+8=16.
The smallest multiple of 3 greater than or equal to 16 is 18.

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 Therefore, the missing digit is 18–16=2.
The number becomes 5382.
b. 23*4:
The sum of the known digits is 2+3+4=9.
The smallest multiple of 3 greater than or equal to 9 is 9.
Therefore, the missing digit is 9 – 9=0.
The number becomes 2304.
c. 9*134:
The sum of the known digits is 9+1+3+4=17.
The smallest multiple of 3 greater than or equal to 17 is 18.
Therefore, the missing digit is 18 – 17=1.
The number becomes 9134.
Example 4: Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 4.
a. 1296 b. 12346 c. 56480
Solution:  To test the divisibility of a number by 4, we need to look at the number formed by its last two digits. If
this two-digit number is divisible by 4, then the entire number is divisible by 4. Let’s apply this rule to
the given numbers:
a. 1296
The number formed by the last two digits is 96.
To check if 96 is divisible by 4: 96 ÷ 4=24.
Since 96 is divisible by 4, 1296 is divisible by 4.
b. 12346
The number formed by the last two digits is 46.
To check if 46 is divisible by 4: 46 ÷ 4=11 with a remainder of 2.
Since 46 is not divisible by 4, 12346 is not divisible by 4.
c. 56480
The number formed by the last two digits is 80.
To check if 80 is divisible by 4: 80 ÷ 4=20.
Since 80 is divisible by 4, 56480 is divisible by 4.
Example 5: Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 5.
a. 1485 b. 24869 c. 65490
Solution:  We know that, a number is divisible by 5 if its ones place is 0 or 5.
a. 1485
Ones place = 5
Thus, 1485 is divisible by 5.
b. 24869
Ones place = 9
Thus, 24869 is not divisible by 5.
c. 65490
Ones place = 0
Thus, 65490 is divisible by 5.
Example 6: Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 6.
a. 14994 b. 64892

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 Solution:  We know that, a number is divisible by 6, if it is divisible by both 2 and 3.
a. 14994
It’s unit place is 4. Thus, it is divisible by 2.
Sum of its digits = 1 + 4 + 9 + 9 + 4 = 27, which is divisible by 3.
Thus, the given number is divisible by both 2 and 3.
Thus, 14994 is divisible by 6.
b. 64892
It’s unit place is 2. Thus, it is divisible by 2.
Sum of its digits = 6 + 4 + 8 + 9 + 2 = 29, which is not divisible by 3.
Thus, 64892 is not divisible by 6.
Example 7: Check if the number 7,007 is divisible by 7.
Solution:  To check if the number 7,007 is divisible by 7, we need to follow the process as given here. Take the
ones place. Multiply it by 2. Subtract the product from the number formed by the remaining digits.
If the result is 0 or a multiple of 7, the original number is divisible by 7. If the number is still large, you
can repeat the process.
The last digit of 7,007 is 7.
Multiply the last digit by 2: 7 × 2 = 14.
Subtract this product (14) from the number formed by the remaining digits (700):
700 – 14=686.
Now, we need to check if 686 is divisible by 7. Let’s apply the rule again to 686:
The last digit of 686 is 6.
Multiply it by 2: 6 × 2 = 12.
Subtract this product (12) from the number formed by the remaining digits (68):
68 – 12 = 56.
Finally, we check if 56 is divisible by 7. 56 ÷ 7=8.
Since 56 is divisible by 7, the original number 7,007 is divisible by 7.
Example 8: Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 8.
a. 26856 b. 64898
Solution:  We know that, a number is divisible by 8 if the number formed by its digits in hundreds, tens and ones
places is divisible by 8.
a. 26856
The number formed by its digits in hundreds, tens and ones places = 856, which is divisible by 8.
Thus, 26856 is divisible by 8.
b. 64898
The number formed by its digits in hundreds, tens and ones places = 898, which is not divisible by 8.
Thus, 64898 is not divisible by 8.
Example 9: In each of the following numbers, replace* by the smallest number to make it divisible by 9.
a. 486* b. 57*41 c. 6*6022
Solution:  We know that, a number is divisible by 9, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
To make each of the given numbers divisible by 9, we need to replace the asterisk (*) with the
smallest number that makes the sum of the digits divisible by 9.
a. 486*:
The sum of the known digits is 4 + 8 + 6 = 18.
Since 18 is already a multiple of 9 (18 ÷ 9 = 2), the smallest digit to replace * is 0.
The number becomes 4860.

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 b. 57*41:
The sum of the known digits is 5 + 7 + 4 + 1 = 17.
The next multiple of 9 after 17 is 18.
To reach 18, the missing digit is 18 – 17=1.
The number becomes 57141.
c. 6*6022:
The sum of the known digits is 6 + 6 + 0 + 2 + 2 = 16.
The next multiple of 9 after 16 is 18.
To reach 18, the missing digit is 18 – 16 = 2.
The number becomes 626022.
Example 10: Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 11.
a. 12595 b. 153464
Solution:  We know that, a number is divisible by 11, if the difference between the sum of its digits at odd places
and the sum of its digits at even places (starting from the ones places) is either 0 or divisible by 11.
a. 12595
Sum of its digits at odd places = 5 + 5 + 1 = 11
Sum of its digits at even places = 9 + 2 = 11
Difference of two sums = 11 – 11 = 0, which is divisible by 11.
Thus, 12595 is divisible by 11.
b. 153464
Sum of its digits at odd places = 4 + 4 + 5 = 13
Sum of its digits at even places = 6 + 3 + 1 = 10
Difference of two sums = 13 – 10 = 0, which is not divisible by 11.
Thus, 153464 is not divisible by 11.

Finding Prime Numbers Between 100-200 and 200-400

To check whether a number is prime, we test if it is divisible by any smaller prime numbers. If it is divisible by any
of these, then it cannot be a prime number, because it has factors other than 1 and itself.
For numbers between 100 and 200
To decide whether a number in this range is prime, we test it for divisibility by the prime numbers:
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13.
If the number is divisible by any one of these primes, it means the number has a factor apart from 1 and itself.
Therefore, it is not a prime number.
If it is not divisible by any of these primes, then it has no smaller factors.
Therefore, it is a prime number.
These primes are enough for testing numbers up to 200 because the square of the next prime (17² = 289) is
already above this range.
For numbers between 200 and 400
To determine if a number in this range is prime, we test divisibility by the prime numbers:
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, and 19.
If the number is divisible by any of these primes, then it has smaller factors and
it is not a prime number.
If the number is not divisible by any of them, then it has no factors other than 1 and itself and
it is a prime number.
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 We include primes up to 19 because 19² = 361, which is within the 200–400 range. Any composite number within
this interval must have at least one prime factor less than or equal to 19.
Example 1: Which of the following are prime numbers?
a. 139 b. 193
c. 361 d. 263
Solution:  a. 139
We need to test for divisibility by prime numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 11.
By 2: 139 is an odd number, so it’s not divisible by 2.
By 3: The sum of digits 1 + 3+ 9 = 13, which is not divisible by 3. So, 139 is not divisible by 3.
By 5: 139 does not end in 0 or 5, so it’s not divisible by 5.
By 7: 139 ÷ 7 = 19 with a remainder of 6. So, 139 is not divisible by 7.
By 11: 139 ÷ 11 = 12 with a remainder of 7. So, 139 is not divisible by 11. Since 139 is not
divisible by any prime number up to its square root, 139 is a prime number.
b. 193
Let us test for divisibility by prime numbers less than or equal to 13: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13.
By 2: 193 is an odd number, so it’s not divisible by 2.
By 3: The sum of digits 1 + 9 + 3 = 13, which is not divisible by 3. So, 193 is not divisible by 3.
By 5: 193 does not end in 0 or 5, so it’s not divisible by 5.
By 7: 193 ÷ 7 = 27 with a remainder of 4. So, 193 is not divisible by 7.
By 11: 193 ÷ 11 = 17 with a remainder of 6. So, 193 is not divisible by 11.
By 13: 193 ÷ 13 = 14 with a remainder of 11. So, 193 is not divisible by 13. Since 193 is not
divisible by any prime number up to its square root, 193 is a prime number.
c. 361
Let us test for divisibility by prime numbers less than or equal to 19: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19.
By 2: 361 is an odd number.
By 3: Sum of digits 3 + 6 + 1 = 10, not divisible by 3.
By 5: Does not end in 0 or 5.
By 7: 361 ÷ 7 = 51 R 4.
By 11: 361 ÷ 11 = 32 R 9.
By 13: 361 ÷ 13 = 27 R 10.
By 17: 361 ÷ 17 = 21 R 4.
By 19: 361 ÷ 19 = 19. Since 361 is divisible by 19, 361 is not a prime number (361=19 × 19).
d. 263
Let us test for divisibility by prime numbers less than or equal to 16: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13.
By 2: 263 is an odd number.
By 3: Sum of digits 2 + 6 + 3 = 11, not divisible by 3.
By 5: Does not end in 0 or 5.
By 7: 263 ÷ 7 = 37 R 4.
By 11: 263 ÷ 11 = 23 R 10.
By 13: 263 ÷ 13 = 20 R 3. Since 263 is not divisible by any prime number up to its square root, 263
is a prime number.

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 Exercise 5.3

1. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 2.

a. 5214 b. 10457 c. 45670 d. 9875461 e. 35678
2. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 3.
a. 60741 b. 45689 c. 901354 d. 5249622 e. 7815369
3. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 4.
a. 40404 b. 678540 c. 958638 d. 1469488 e. 500858
4. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 5.
a. 8569884 b. 90355 c. 4567890 d. 364897 e. 56790
5. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 6.
a. 7998 b. 56790 c. 747404 d. 338871 e. 874068
6. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 7.
a. 789632 b. 10192 c. 321272 d. 63,007 e. 896425
7. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 8.
a. 9024 b. 171864 c. 116488 d. 126404 e. 635642
8. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 9.
a. 41118 b. 70151 c. 56790 d. 411201 e. 90339
9. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 10.
a. 5640 b. 45685 c. 105080 d. 645810 e. 6854305
10. Test the divisibility of the following numbers by 11.
a. 45304 b. 275 c. 1089 d. 70345 e. 789766
11. In each of the following numbers, replace by * by the smallest number to make it divisible by 3.
a. 68*5 b. 93*47 c. 1*638 d. 92*57 e. 967*158
12. In each of the following numbers, replace by * by the smallest number to make it divisible by 9.
a. 85*7 b. 87*69 c. 7*558 d. 82*77 e. 869*167
13. In each of the following numbers, replace by * by the smallest number to make it divisible by 11.
a. 96*4 b. 67*70 c. 1*99843 d. 456*86 e. 782*37
14. Fill in the blanks.
a. A number is divisible by if it has 0 or 5 in its ones place.
b. A number is divisible by if it has 0 in its ones place.
c. A number is divisible by if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
d. A number is divisible by if it is divisible by both 2 and 3.
e. A number is divisible by if the number formed by its last two digits are divisible by 4.
15. Which of the following are prime numbers?
a. 109 b. 165 c. 111 d. 241
e. 161 f. 339 g. 271 h. 353

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16. Express the following as the sum of two odd primes.
a. 30 b. 24 c. 32
17. Give an example of a number which is divisible by
a. 2 but not by 6 b. 3 but not by 6 c. 4 but not by 8
d. 6 but not by 18 e. both 4 and 8 but not by 32
18. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements.
a. If a number is divisible by 9, it must be divisible by 3.
b. If a number is divisible by 4, it must be divisible by 8.
c. If a number is divisible by 8, it must be divisible by 4.
d. The sum of two consecutive odd numbers is always divisible by 4.
e. The sum of two even numbers gives a multiple of 4.
f. The sum of two odd numbers gives a multiple of 4.
g. If a number is divisible by 9 and 10, it must be divisible by 90.
h. If a number is divisible by 3 and 7, it must be divisible by 21.
i. If a number divides two numbers exactly, it must divide their sum exactly.

5.6 Fun with numbers

Special Numbers
Special numbers often appear in interesting mathematical activities where number properties are used to solve
puzzles or complete patterns. One such activity is the Prime Puzzle, which helps learners apply their understanding
of prime numbers and factorisation in a fun and meaningful way.
Prime Puzzles
A prime puzzle uses a 3 × 3 empty grid that you must fill using only prime numbers. Along the right side of the
grid, a number is shown for each row, and along the bottom, a number is shown for each column. These numbers
represent products.
Rules of the Puzzle
Use only prime numbers in all nine boxes of the grid.
The product of the three numbers in each row must equal the number written to the right of that row.
The product of the three numbers in each column must equal the number written below that column.
This means that every prime number you place influences both its row and its column, so the arrangement must
satisfy all the row and column products at the same time. Solving the puzzle becomes a logical challenge involving
prime factorisation, multiplication, and trial-and-error reasoning.
Learners can begin by breaking down the row and column products into their prime factors and then carefully
matching primes so the grid fits all conditions.
Example 10: Complete the prime puzzle given below:

75
42
102
170 30 63
The prime factorisation of the first row, 75 = 3 × 5 × 5
Solution: 
And, the prime factorisation of the number in the first column, 170 = 2 × 5 × 17
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 5 being common to the first row and first column, will fill the top-left cell.
By proceeding in this manner, we get,
5 5 3 75
2 3 7 42
17 2 3 102
170 30 63

Exercise 5.4

1. In which of the following expressions has prime factorisation been done?

a. 36 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 b. 30 = 3 × 10 c. 70 = 2 × 5 × 7 d. 66 = 2 × 3 × 11
2. Complete the factor tree.
a. 48 b. 56

6 × 8 × 7

× 2 × × 4 4 × ×

× × × × × × ×

3. Find the prime factorisation of each of the following numbers.

a. 242 b. 320 c. 141 d. 3450
4. Is the first number divisible by the second? Use prime factorisation:
a. 325 and 75 b. 120 and 24 c. 1890 by 126 d. 2600 by 650
5. Write the smallest 4-digit number and express it as a product of primes.
6. Write the greatest 3-digit number and express it in terms of its prime factors primes.
7. Which factors are not included in the prime factorisation of a composite number?
8. The first number has prime factorisation 2 × 3 × 7 and the second number has prime factorisation
3 × 7 × 11. Are they co-prime? Does one of them divide the other?
9. What is the smallest number whose prime factorisation has:
a. three different prime numbers? b. four different prime numbers?
10. State whether the following are true (T) or false (F):
a. 0 is the even number. b. 2 is the only even prime number.
c. 1 is neither a prime nor a composite number. d. There are 13 prime number between 1 and 50.
11. Complete the prime factor grid below:
a. 8 b. 343
105 66
70 44
30 70 28 28 154 231

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 Famous Mathematician

Euclid (c. 300 BCE):

Who was he? A Greek mathematician known as the "Father of Geometry."
Contribution: He studied numbers and their properties, especially prime numbers. He provided the
Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, which states that every composite number can be written as a unique
product of prime numbers.
Impact: His work is foundational to understanding factors, multiples, and primes.
Eratosthenes (c. 276 BCE – c. 194 BCE):
Who was he? A Greek mathematician.
Contribution: He developed the Sieve of Eratosthenes, a systematic method for finding all prime numbers up
to a specified integer (like 100) by progressively eliminating composites.
Aryabhata
Who was he? An Indian mathematician from the 5th century.
Contribution: He was the first to use the concept of '0' (zero).
Impact: This concept is essential for defining Whole Numbers, which differ from Natural Numbers by
including zero.
Brahmagupta
Who was he? An Indian mathematician from the 7th century.
Contribution: He provided the set of rules on how to use '0' in mathematical operations.
Impact: His rules explain key properties in this chapter, such as why zero is a multiple of every number but
not a factor of any number.

Maths Lab Activity

Objective: To find out the largest common factor of given numbers experimentally.
Pre-Requisite Knowledge: Concept of factors and multiples of numbers.
Materials Required: Construction box, coloured paper, Fevicol, a pencil, and a pair of scissors.
Procedure: Perform the following steps to prepare a worksheet to get the largest common factor of given
numbers.
Let the given numbers be 6 and 9.
1. Draw a strip to represent 6 cm as shown in Fig. 1.
2. Draw a strip to represent 9 cm as shown in Fig. 2.
This strip represents 6 cm This strip represents 9 cm

Fig. 1 Fig. 2
3. Out of the strip of 6 cm, cut 2 strips of length 3 cm each, as shown in Fig. 3.

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4. Out of the strip of 9 cm, cut a strip of length 6 cm. A strip of length 3 cm remains as shown in Fig. 4.

3 cm 3 cm 6 cm 3 cm
Fig. 3 Fig. 3
5. 3 is the largest common factor of 9 and 6.
6. Repeat the activity with given numbers and record your observations.
Observations:
S. No. Given Number Largest Common Factor

1. (13,17)

2. (6,15)

3. (12, 24)

Conclusion: Performing the above activity clearly explains the process of finding out the largest common factor.
On the right side of the worksheet, an explanation is given for the operations performed. It is obvious that the
largest common factor of 9 and 6 is 3.

Quick Recap

• Natural Numbers are used for counting: 1, 2, 3, …

FPO
• Whole Numbers include all natural numbers along with 0: 0, 1, 2, 3, …
• Factors are numbers that divide a given number exactly. Ask AI

• Multiples are numbers obtained by multiplying a number by 1, 2, 3, …

• Prime Numbers are numbers greater than 1 with exactly two factors: 1 and itself.
• Composite Numbers are numbers greater than 1 with more than two factors.
• Co-prime Numbers are two numbers having no common factor other than 1.
• Divisibility Rules are quick methods to check divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
• Twin Primes are prime numbers differing by 2, for example, 11 and 13.
• Even Numbers are divisible by 2, whereas Odd Numbers are not divisible by 2.
• Square Numbers are obtained by multiplying a number by itself, e.g., 4, 9, 16.
• The sum of all the factors, including the number itself, is twice the number; the number is called a
perfect number.
• Prime Factorisation is expressing a number as a product of prime numbers.
• HCF (Highest Common Factor) is the largest number that divides two or more numbers exactly.
• LCM (Lowest Common Multiple) is the smallest number divisible by two or more numbers.

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 Maths Words

• Factor: A number that divides another number exactly without leaving a remainder.
• Multiple: A number obtained by multiplying a given number by 1, 2, 3, etc..
• Prime Number: A whole number greater than 1 that has exactly two distinct factors: 1 and itself (e.g., 2, 3, 5).
• Composite Number: A whole number greater than 1 that has more than two factors.
• Twin Primes: A pair of prime numbers that differ by exactly 2 (e.g., 3 and 5).
• Co-prime Numbers: Two numbers that have only 1 as their common factor.
• Prime Factorisation: The process of expressing a composite number as a product of prime numbers.
• Perfect Number: A number where the sum of all its factors (including the number itself) is equal to twice
the number.
• Sieve of Eratosthenes: A method to find prime numbers by eliminating multiples of each prime starting from 2.

Challenger Section

A. Recognition Prime time

1. If a and b are prime numbers and their product is 221, then the value of a + b is:
a. 21 b. 24 c. 30 d. 28
2. Which of the following pairs are not co-prime?
a. (14, 15) b. (9, 25) c. (10, 21) d. (8, 18)
3. The product of two twin primes is 143. What are the primes?
a. 11, 13 b. 13, 15 c. 9, 11 d. 17, 19
4. Which is the smallest 3-digit number divisible by both 7 and 9?
a. 126 b. 252 c. 315 d. 441

B. Analytical Prime time

5. Write the smallest number that is a multiple of both 4, 5, and 9.
6. If A = smallest two-digit prime number and B = largest two-digit prime number, find the HCF and LCM
of A and B.
7. Two bells ring together every 20 and 30 minutes. If they ring together at 10 a.m., at what time will they
next ring together?
8. Find the smallest number that, when divided by 3, 5, and 7, leaves a remainder of 1 each time.
9. The sum of three prime numbers is 31. One of them is 13. Find the other two primes.

C. Logical Reasoning
10. Which of the following numbers is both a perfect square and a perfect cube?
a. 64 b. 100 c. 81 d. 125
11. Which pair of numbers are co-prime?
a. 6 and 9 b. 14 and 15 c. 12 and 18 d. 21 and 28

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 12. Find the smallest 3-digit number divisible by 7, 8, and 9.
a. 504 b. 5040 c. 1008 d. 25
13. A number when divided by 7 leaves a remainder of 3, and when divided by 5 leaves a remainder of 1.
What is the smallest positive number?
a. 11 b. 16 c. 31 d. 36
14. A number is such that when it is multiplied by 3 and 1 is added, the result is a perfect square. Which
number could it be?
a. 2 b. 3 c. 5 d. 8

Career Connect

Many professions require mathematical abilities, particularly when working with numbers. Understanding
patterns, prime numbers, factors, and multiples is essential for jobs like statisticians, engineers, cryptographers,
accountants, and data analysts.

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 Exam Prep

A. Tick () the correct option.

1. What is the smallest prime number?
a. 0 b. 1 c. 2 d. 3
2. Which of the following numbers is a composite number?
a. 7 b. 13 c. 19 d. 21
3. Two prime numbers whose difference is 2 are called:
a. Co-prime numbers b. Twin primes c. Prime triplet d. Perfect numbers
4. A number is divisible by 5 if its last digit is:
a. 0 or 2 b. 0 or 5 c. 1 or 5 d. Any even number
5. Which of the following pairs is a co-prime pair?
a. (2, 4) b. (3, 6) c. (5, 7) d. (6, 9)
6. If a number is divisible by both 2 and 3, then it is divisible by:
a. 7 b. 4 c. 11 d. 6
7. Which is not a prime number?
a. 33 b. 43 c. 23 d. 61
8. If the last digit of a number is 0, it is divisible by:
a. 5 b. 10 c. 2 d. All of these
9. Prime factorisation of 84 is:
a. 22 × 21 b. 2 × 3 × 14 c. 22 × 3 × 7 d. 4 × 3 × 7
10. Which is the largest prime number less than 50?
a. 43 b. 47 c. 49 d. 41
B. Fill in the blanks.
1. A number that is not an even number is an number.
2. The number 1 is neither a prime nor a number.
3. The common factors of 12 and 18 are .
4. The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is .
5. A number is divisible by 2 if its last digit is an digit.
6. A prime number has exactly factors.
7. The smallest composite number is .
8. The only even prime number is .
9. The smallest prime factor of any even number is .
10. The LCM of two co-prime numbers is equal to their .
C. State True/False.
1. All even numbers are composite numbers.
2. The only even prime number is 2.
3. If a number is divisible by both 2 and 3, it is also divisible by 6.
4. All odd numbers are prime numbers.
5. 13, 17, 19 is an example of a prime triplet.

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D. Read the passage and answer the following questions.
In a school library, there are 480 English
notebooks and 360 Hindi notebooks. The Liberian
wants to pack them in boxes so that each box has
the same number of English notebooks and the
same number of Hindi notebooks. She also wants
the maximum number of notebooks in each box
to reduce the number of boxes.
1. What is the maximum number of notebooks of each subject per box?
a. 60 b. 80 c. 120 d. 100
2. How many boxes will be needed for English notebooks?
a. 5 b. 4 c. 6 d. 8
3. How many boxes will be needed for Hindi notebooks?
a. 2 b. 5 c. 4 d. 3
4. Which method is used to find the maximum number of notebooks per box?
a. HCF b. LCM c. Addition d. Subtraction
E. Assertion Reason Type Questions.
The two statements below are marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct option.
a. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c. A is true but R is false.
d. A is false, but R is true.
1. Assertion (A): The number 17 is a prime number.
Reason (R): A prime number has exactly two factors 1 and itself.
2. Assertion (A): The number 49 is divisible by 7.
Reason (R): For divisibility by 7, double the last digit and subtract it from the remaining number. If the
result is divisible by 7, then the original number is divisible by 7.
F. Subjective Questions.
1. Find the prime factorisation of 180.
2. Determine if the number 52,476 is divisible by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11 using divisibility tests.
3. List all common multiples of 4 and 6 less than 50.
4. Identify which of the following are co-prime pairs:
a. (15, 22) b. (28, 35) c. (17, 51)
5. Find the missing digit in 43*2 if the number is divisible by 9.
G. Think critically.
1. Find the least number which, when divided by 12, 16, and 18, leaves a remainder of 5 in each case.
2. The LCM of two numbers is 120, and their HCF is 10. If one number is 20, find the other.
3. A number is divisible by 5, 6, and 9. Find the smallest number.

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