factor – a number that divides into another number exactly

(pronounced fac-tuh)

To remember the meaning of factor, use the following mnemonic:

The factory (factor) produces numbers that divide exactly into another number.

A factor is a number that divides evenly into another number without leaving a remainder. When you multiply two or more numbers together to get a product, each of those numbers is called a factor of that product.

For example, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12, because each of these numbers divides into 12 exactly. Factors always come in pairs - when you multiply them together, they give you the original number (like 2 x 6 = 12 or 3 x 4 = 12).