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4th grade · Math · Unit 12 of 17

Prime & Composite

Count factors to sort numbers into prime and composite

What your child practices

A prime number has exactly two factors, 1 and itself (like 7). A composite number has more than two (like 12). 1 is neither. Children find factors with multiplication and division facts.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: NY-4.OA.4 · finding factor pairs and telling prime from composite numbers

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. A factor divides a number with none left over.
  2. A prime number has exactly 2 factors: 1 and itself.
  3. A composite number has more than 2 factors.

Example: Is 22 prime or composite? 22 ÷ 2 = 11, so 2 is a factor. It has more than 2 factors. Answer: Composite

Prime & Composite in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 12 of 17 in 4th grade Math, after Metric Measures and before Feet, Pounds & Gallons.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Is 8 prime or composite?

    • neither prime nor composite
    • composite
    • prime

  2. Question 2

    Is 4 prime or composite?

    • composite
    • prime
    • neither prime nor composite

  3. Question 3

    What number goes in the box?

    8 × = 32

    answer box

  4. Question 4

    Which is the only even prime number?

    • 8
    • 6
    • 2
    • 4

  5. Question 5

    Which number is prime?

    • 2
    • 35
    • 45
    • 33

  6. Question 6

    How many factors does 8 have?

    • 3
    • 4
    • 2

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