Factor facts for kids

A factor is a word that can mean different things depending on the topic. It often refers to something that helps cause or influence a result. You might hear about factors in math, science, or even in games!

What is a Factor in Math?

In mathematics, a factor is a number that divides another number exactly, without leaving any remainder. Think of it like this: if you can multiply two whole numbers together to get a third number, then those two numbers are factors of the third number.

Finding Factors

Let's look at an example. If you have the number 12, its factors are the numbers you can multiply to get 12.

• 1 and 12 are factors of 12 (because 1 × 12 = 12)
• 2 and 6 are factors of 12 (because 2 × 6 = 12)
• 3 and 4 are factors of 12 (because 3 × 4 = 12)

So, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.

Prime Factors

Some numbers have special factors called prime factors. A prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that has only two factors: 1 and itself. For example, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11 are prime numbers. When you break a number down into its prime factors, you are doing something called prime factorization.

For example, the prime factors of 12 are 2, 2, and 3 (because 2 × 2 × 3 = 12).

What is a Factor in Science?

In science, especially in biochemistry, a factor is often a substance or condition that helps a biological process happen. These factors are important for how living things work.

Examples in Biology

• Growth factors are proteins that tell cells to grow and divide. They are very important for healing wounds and for development.
• Clotting factors are proteins in your blood that help it clot when you get a cut. This stops you from bleeding too much.
• Environmental factors are things in the environment, like temperature, light, or water, that affect living organisms. For example, sunlight is a factor for plant growth.

What is a Factor in Games?

Sometimes, the word "factor" can also refer to a specific type of character or element in a game. For example, in the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, a "factor" can be a special kind of character or a key element that influences the game's story or outcome.

See also

In Spanish: Factor para niños