0
One is not composite because it has no factor other than 1 or itself.
In a sense 1 is prime, but the definition specifically excludes it from primality because allowing it to be a prime would mean that the factors of any number would include 1. Mathematicians prefer not to waste time or ink on something trivial.
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Coach
Professor
Taiga1 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.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is ONE composite or prime OR NEITHER?
ANSWER: One is neither prime nor composite.
Is forty one a prime or composite number?
Composite
Is 37 and 42 prime or composite?
37 is prime, 42 is composite.
Is the number 1 composite or prime and why?
1 is neither a prime nor a composite number because it has only one factor (itself (1)). The definition of a prime number is a number that has the factor of one and itself, so one is not prime. The definition of a composite number is a number that has more than 2 factors, so one is not composite. One is a special number.
Why is one a composite number?
ANSWER: One is not a composite number.One is not also a prime number.
