California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Math Practice Exam

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What best defines a factor in mathematics?

  1. A type of mathematical operation

  2. A number that can divide another whole number with no remainder

  3. The sum of two whole numbers

  4. A symbol used to represent multiplication

The correct answer is: A number that can divide another whole number with no remainder

A factor in mathematics is best defined as a number that can divide another whole number without leaving a remainder. This concept is fundamental in number theory and helps with understanding multiplication and divisibility. When a number is divisible by another number, it means that you can multiply the second number by an integer to obtain the first number. For example, in the pair of numbers 6 and 3, 3 is a factor of 6 because 6 divided by 3 equals 2, which is a whole number with no remainder. The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what a factor is. The first option describes a type of mathematical operation but does not specify relation to factors. The third option refers to the concept of addition, which is unrelated to the definition of factors. The fourth option mentions a symbol used to represent multiplication without connecting it to the idea of factors. Thus, defining a factor strictly as a number that divides another whole number accurately describes its role in mathematics.