Question

$$\begin{gathered} \text{Fill in the blank}\text{.} \\ \text{The smallest composite number is ……...}\mathrm{\_}\mathrm{\_}\mathrm{\_}\mathrm{\_} \end{gathered}$$

Answer 1

$$\begin{gathered} \text{All composite numbers have at least three factors this means that there are at least three numbers } \\ \text{that can be used to evenly divide a composite number}\text{.} \\ \text{e}\text{.g 21} \\ \text{Factors of 21 are 1,3,7,21} \\ \text{Hence smallest composite no is 4 } \\ \text{Because, } \\ \text{1 has only one factor } \\ \text{2 has 2 factors i}\text{.e 1 and 2 } \\ \text{Also, 3 has 2 factors i}\text{.e 1 and 3 } \\ \text{So, 4 is the first number that satisfies all the conditions to be a composite number } \\ \text{Factors of 4 are 1,2,4} \\ \text{NOTE: A composite number is a positive integer that can be formed by multiplying two} \\ \text{Smaller positive integers }\text{.equivalently,it is a positive integer that has at least one divisor} \\ \text{other than 1 and itself}\text{. } \end{gathered}$$