Calculators

Math

Factors

12 is a highly composite number with 6 factors, making it extremely useful for dividing things into equal groups. It's the basis for dozens and appears in timekeeping (12 hours, 12 months).

All Factors

The factors of 12 are:  1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

The prime factorization is: 12 = 2 x 2 x 3

Factoring of 12 Using Trial Division

Find the Factors of 12 :

• Calculate the square root of 12 which is 3.4641, and round it down to the closest whole number, 3, and use it in the next step.
• Test the integer values 1 through 3 for division into 12 where the remainder equals 0.
• We find 6 factors where the remainder of division is 0 and they are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.

Factor Pairs

1 × 12 = 12
2 × 6 = 12
3 × 4 = 12

The factor pairs (multiples) that equal 12 when multiplied together are: (1 and 12), (2 and 6), (3 and 4), which we found by matching up all factors of 12 which are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.

Is 12 Prime or Composite?

12 is a composite number. Since it has more than two factors, we know that 12 is not prime, it is composite. Prime numbers only have two factors. They are evenly divisible by only 1 and itself.