Prime numbers are natural numbers greater than 1 that cannot be formed by multiplying two smaller natural numbers. Often described as the "atoms" of mathematics, they are the fundamental components from which all other whole numbers are constructed. 2. Definition and Characteristics
The number 1 is not a prime number because it only has one factor (itself).
A prime number is formally defined as a positive integer having exactly two distinct factors: 1 and itself.
The number 2 is the smallest prime number and is unique for being the only even prime number.
Whole numbers greater than 1 that have more than two factors are known as composite numbers. For example, 6 is composite because its factors are 1, 2, 3, and 6. 3. Identifying Prime Numbers
There are several methods for determining if a number is prime: