answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

By definition, 1 is not prime. A Prime number has exactly two unique natural number divisors; itself and one. You can understand '1 and 1' to be two numbers, but they are not unique. The same reasoning brings us to the conclusion that 1 is not composite; a composite number can be divided without remainder by at least one integer other than itself and 1.

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago

1 cannot be a composite number because it is not divisible by any number other than itself.


It is not a prime because of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic: the unique prime factorisation theorem. This states that any positive integer greater than 1 can be expressed as a product of a unique set of primes. If 1 were considered a prime then you could add any number of 1s to the set of factors and the product would not change. For example,12 = 2*2*3 or 1*2*2*3 or 1*1*1*1*2*2*3 : so that the factorisation is no longer unique.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

A prime number has only 2 factors which are 1 and itself. Composite numbers are everything else except 1 and 0. 1 and 0 are neither prime, nor composite.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why is the number 1 not composite or prime?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What is neither a prime nor a composite number?

It is 1 that is neither a prime or a composite number The number 1 is neither prime nor composite.


Which number is not a prime or a composite number?

1 is neither prime nor composite.


Is 1851 a composite or prime number?

1851 is a composite number. A prime number has only 2 factors which are 1 and itself. Composite numbers are everything else except 1 and 0. 1 and 0 are neither prime, nor composite.


Is 726 a prime or composite number?

726 is a composite number. A prime number has only 2 factors which are 1 and itself. Composite numbers are everything else except 1 and 0. 1 and 0 are neither prime, nor composite.


Is 1331 a composite or prime number?

1331 is a composite number. A prime number has only 2 factors which are 1 and itself. Composite numbers are everything else except 1 and 0. 1 and 0 are neither prime, nor composite.


Is 1 a composite number even though it is neither a prime or composite number?

the number "1" is neither prime or composite the only number that go into "1" is 1. A prime number is a number that only has 2 factors.And a composite number has 3 or more factors.


Is 1 a prime composite or neither?

1 is not considered to be a prime or a composite number


Which number is not a prime or a composite number 21 15 8 and 1?

1 is not composite or prime.


What is the other name if it is not a prime number?

It is then a composite number with the exception of 1 which is not a prime or a composite number


Is 576 a prime or composite number?

576 is a composite number. A prime number has only 2 factors which are 1 and itself. Composite numbers are everything else except 1 and 0. 1 and 0 are neither prime, nor composite.


Is 1 a prime or prime?

No 1 is neither a prime number or a composite number


What do i prime and composite?

ok well i am in prime and composite in math class and this is how: If the number is a prime then it can only have 2 factors. If it has 3 or more it is a composite number. Say 25 has a lot of factors so it is a composite number. And if 1 has only 1 factor then it is a prime number. And there you have prime and composite.