A factor of a number divides into it with no remainder. \u00a0For example, 5 is a factor of 15; 7 is a factor of 56.<\/p>\n
A prime number<\/strong> has exactly two<\/strong> factors: \u00a01 and itself. \u00a0Notice that 2 is prime, having only 1 and 2 as factors. \u00a07 is also prime. \u00a09 is not prime, since it has three factors: \u00a01, 3, and 9 all divide into it with no remainder. \u00a010 is not prime either. \u00a01 is not prime, since it only has one factor: \u00a01.<\/p>\n Numbers that are relatively prime don’t have to be prime, but they share no common factor except for 1. \u00a012 and 5 are relatively prime, for instance. \u00a010 and 15 are not relatively prime, since they have 5 as a common factor.<\/p>\n An application of relatively prime numbers is fraction reduction. \u00a0If the numerator (the top number) and the denominator (the bottom number) are relatively prime, the fraction is reduced. \u00a0Reduced<\/em> might also be referred to as in lowest terms<\/em>.<\/p>\n By that rationale, 24<\/span><\/sup>\u204418<\/span><\/sub> is not in lowest terms because 24 and 18 are not relatively prime.\u00a0\u00a0 In particular, they share the common factor 6.\u00a0 Dividing 6 out of both, we get\u00a04<\/span><\/sup>\u20443<\/span><\/sub>. Since 4 and 3 are relatively prime, the fraction is now reduced.<\/p>\n Hope this helps:)<\/p>\n