4th grade · Math · Unit 4 of 15
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.
Oregon State Standards learning standard: 4.OA.B.4 · finding factor pairs and telling prime from composite numbers
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- A factor divides a number with none left over.
- A prime number has exactly 2 factors: 1 and itself.
- 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
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which number is composite?
- 3
- 9
- 17
- 19
9
Hint: A composite number has more than two factors. 9 has factors 1, 3, 9.
Question 2
Which number is a factor of 20?
- 12
- 4
- 14
- 6
4
Hint: A factor divides 20 with nothing left over. 4 × 5 = 20.
Question 3
What number goes in the box?
6 × = 36
answer box
6
Hint: Think of the related division: 36 ÷ 6 = 6.
Question 4
Which statement is true?
- Every number greater than 1 is prime
- Every odd number is prime
- Every even number is prime
- Every even number greater than 2 is composite
Every even number greater than 2 is composite
Hint: Even numbers greater than 2 have 1, 2 and themselves as factors, so they have more than two factors.
Question 5
How many factors does 31 have?
- 7
- 1
- 2
2
Hint: List the factors in pairs: 1, 31.
Question 6
Is 33 prime or composite?
- neither prime nor composite
- prime
- composite
composite
Hint: 33 has more than two factors (1, 3, 11, 33), so it is composite.