Definition of Factor in Math

In math, a factor is any of the numbers multiplied to form a product.

For example, in the number sentence 6 × 9 = 54, 6 is a factor. By the same token, 9 is also a factor.

Notice that 6 can divide 54 without leaving any remainder and 9 can also divide 54 without leaving any remainder.

This gives us another way to define factor. Here is a more formal definition of factor:

The factors of a number are all the numbers that divide that number.

For example, the factors of 8 are 1, 2, 4, and 8.

The definition of factor can also apply to algebraic expressions.

For example, in 2x × y, there are 3 factors. The 3 factors are 2, x, and y.

In x(x+2), x and x+2 are factors.