Question

List the factors for 60

Answer 1

In order to find the factors of 60, let's divide it by the prime numbers, starting with 2, as many times we can, until we reach 1:

`\begin{gathered} 60/2=30 \\ 30/2=15 \end{gathered}`

15 can't be divided by 2, so we can continue with 3:

`15/3=5`

5 is already a prime number, so it can only be divided by itself:

`5/5=1`

Now, to find all factors, let's multiply the prime factors by themselves:

`\begin{gathered} \text{prime factors: 2, 2, 3, 5} \\ 2\cdot2=4 \\ 2\cdot3=6 \\ 2\cdot5=10 \\ 2\cdot2\cdot3=12 \\ 3\cdot5=15 \\ 2\cdot2\cdot5=20 \\ 2\cdot3\cdot5=30 \end{gathered}`

Therefore the factors of 60 are:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30 and 60.