How to identify whole numbers that are prime or composite

Do you know how to identify whole numbers that are prime or composite? Learning how to identify whole numbers that are prime or composite is easy and very useful in math of any levels. In this section of Math Worksheets, we teach you how to identify whole numbers that are prime or composite.

Recap the definition of composite numbers

We answered 'What is a composite number?' in our composite numbers section that a composite number is not a prime number. While a prime number has only two factors (one and itself), a composite number has more than two factors (one, itself, and at least one other number).

From our list of composite numbers, you also have seen examples of composite numbers from 1 to 100. Now, in order to find more list of composite numbers, you will learn how to identify whole numbers that are prime or composite. That way, you will have a list of all composite numbers.

Let's take a whole number, say 10. How to identify whole numbers, such as 10, that are prime or composite?

How to identify whole numbers that are prime or composite Step 1

Recognize that one (1) is a factor of every whole numbers (both prime numbers and composite numbers).

The first step of how to identify whole numbers that are prime or composite is to try to divide it by the smallest positive number other than one since we know that one is a factor of both prime number and composite number. 

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