Question

What factor is paired with 3 to give 24?

Answer 1

`3 and 8`

Explanation:

Factors are always in pairs.

When a factor is divided INTO a number, it will always divide in an exact number of times. That number of times is also a factor. The two numbers form a factor pair.

2 is a factor of 6. `" "rarr6div2=3 " "rarr` 3 is also a factor of 6.

`2 xx 3 =6" "rarr` 2 and 3 are the factor pair.

Let's consider 24 which has many factor pairs.

`1 xx 24 = 24`
`2 xx 12 = 24`

`color(red)(3 xx ??= 24)" "rarr` ask "how many times does 3 divide into 24?"

`24 div 3 = 8" "rarr 3 and 8` are a factor pair

The other factor pair is `4xx6`

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Something more...

You can write the factors of 24 as

`F_24 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24`
`color(white)(xxxxx..xxx)uarr`
`color(white)(x..xx)`middle of the factors

Each factor pair consists of a small factor and a big factor- one is on the left of the middle, the other is on the right of the middle.