By definition, a prime number is only evenly divisible by itself, or the number 1, and it is greater than 1. If a number is composite, you can divide it evenly by numbers other than 1. For example, if you divide 7 by any integer other than 1, you end up with a fraction or decimal; therefore, 7 is prime. However, 8 is divisible by 2 and 4 (8/2 = 4, 8/4 = 2). Breaking down a number into its prime and composite factors is helpful for a number of mathematical processes.
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