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Prime Time

Quick tests without dividing

Is 2 a factor of 348? Look at the last digit, 8. Yes. A digit is one of 0 to 9. 348 has digits 3, 4 and 8.

The number 348, digit by digit.
Step 1 of 4
  1. The number 348, digit by digit.
  2. Last digit 8 is even → 2 fits.
  3. Add every digit: 3 + 4 + 8 = 15.
  4. 15 is a multiple of 3 → 3 fits.

The rule

A divisibility rule checks part of a number, not all of it. The divisor is the number you divide by. The digit sum is all the digits added: 3 + 4 + 8 = 15.

Divisibility rules — check part of the number, not all of it
DivisorRuleExample
2Last digit even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8)348 → 8 → yes
5Last digit 0 or 5345 → 5 → yes
10Last digit 0340 → 0 → yes
3Digit sum is a multiple of 3348 → 15 → yes
4Last two digits make a multiple of 4316 → 16 → yes
6Fits both 2 and 3714 → even, sum 12 → yes
9Digit sum is a multiple of 9348 → 15 → no

A rule always agrees with dividing. 348 ÷ 3 = 116 exactly. Check: 3 × 116 = 348.

Answer each question in the lab. Use the quick test.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 What is a factor?
  3. 2 Counting up in steps
  4. 3 Primes: exactly two factors
  5. 4 Composites: more than two factors
  6. 5 Quick tests without dividing
  7. 6 Numbers that share factors
  8. 7 The big picture
  9. 8 Track quiz

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