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composite number

composite number

6.3
A whole number greater than one that can be divided evenly by a number other than one and itself
  • noun
  • /kəmˈpɒzɪt ˈnʌmbər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : número compuesto
  • Numbers like 9 and 10 illustrate the concept of a composite number, as they have divisors other than one and themselves.

Let's take a look at properties of highly composite numbers, antiprime numbers.

Examples

  • And if X is really a composite number, some branch will find the factor.

  • To identify whether a number is a composite number, you can check if it can be divided by integers other than one and itself.

  • Let's take a look at properties of highly composite numbers, antiprime numbers.

  • It isn't considered a composite number where you make the other numbers from primes.

  • Considering powers modulo primes and then modulo composite numbers throws up a whole range of interesting theory, in particular Fermat's Little Theorem, which states that modulo a prime p:

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  • A composite number is any integer greater than one that is not prime, such as 4, 6, or 8.

Antonyms

prime number
  • Specialized
7 3.6

A whole number greater than 1 that you can divide only by 1 and itself

Surface Forms

Morphology

composite + number

The adjective 'composite' (made of several joined parts) combined with 'number' signals that the number has multiple parts or factors, so learners who know the constituents can infer a contrast with 'prime' and get a partial sense of divisibility. However, the exact mathematical definition (divisible by a positive integer other than 1 and itself) is technical and not fully predictable from the everyday meaning of 'composite', so this is not fully transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Composite number comes from the word composite, which means 'made of parts', and it gives a clear picture: the number is built from smaller numbers. That's why a composite number is a number you can divide by other numbers, called 'factors', besides 1 and itself.