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The fundamental theorem of arithmetic states that any number greater then 1 can be expressed as the product of a unique set of primes. i.e. 6=3x2. If 1 was a Prime number then 6=3x2x1=3x2x1x1 which means that the set of primes in no longer unique. They wanted the theorem to work, so mathematicians decided 1 can't be a prime number. Same goes for 0 becasue if 0 was a prime number then 0=0x2=0x3.

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Q: Why aren't 0 and 1 prime factors?
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