What does factor of ten mean?

Answer 1

A "factor" is a whole number that can be evenly divided into another whole number.

So for 10:

1 can be evenly divided into 10: 10/1 = 10

2 can be evenly divided into 10: 10/2 = 5

3 cannot be evenly divided into 10: 10/3 = 3.333

4 cannot be evenly divided into 10:10/4 = 2.5

5 can be evenly divided into 10:10/5 = 2

6, 7, 8, and 9 cannot be evenly divided into 10

10 can be evenly divided into 10: 10/10 = 1

So, the factors of 10 are: 1, 2, 5, and 10

Answer 2

Increase by a factor of ten is just a fancy way of saying "Multiply it by ten."