not prime · factors 1, 2, 3, 6 · tested up to √6

Is 6 a prime number?

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the answer

6 is not a prime number, because it is divisible by 2: 6 = 2 × 3, and it has 4 factors.

the test

Checking 6 for primality, divisor by divisor

TryIntoGivesVerdict
263 remainder 0divides exactly

You only need to test primes up to the square root of 6, about 2: if 6 had a factor bigger than that, its partner would be smaller and would already have been found.

divisibility rules

The quick checks first

  • Divisible by 2? Yes: the last digit is even.
  • Divisible by 3? Yes: the digit sum is 6.
  • Divisible by 5? No: the last digit is 6.
  • Divisible by 9? No: the digit sum is 6.
  • Divisible by 10? No: the last digit is 6.
factors

All the factors of 6

1, 2, 3, 6 (4 factors)

Prime factorisation: 2 × 3.

neighbours

The primes near 6

The prime before 6 is 5; the prime after it is 7.

try another number

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practice

✏️ Five questions, answers hidden

1. Is 7 prime?

Answer: yes

2. Is 8 prime?

Answer: no

3. What is the smallest prime factor of 10?

Answer: 2

4. List the primes between 10 and 30.

Answer: 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29

5. Up to which number do you need to test divisors for 19?

Answer: the square root, about 4

where this is taught

📚 The class this belongs to

Prime and composite numbers are taught in Grade 4 and 5 in the US, Year 5 in the UK (KS2), Class 5 and 6 in CBSE and Year 5 and 6 in Australia.

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Questions

Asked about Is 6 a prime number?

1Is 6 a prime number?
6 is not a prime number: it is divisible by 2: 6 = 2 × 3, and it has 4 factors.
2What are the factors of 6?
1, 2, 3, 6.
3How do you check whether a number is prime?
Test the primes 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, … up to its square root. If none divides it exactly, it is prime. For 6 the square root is about 2, so at most 1 tests are needed.
4What is the next prime after 6?
7.