In mathematics, a factor is a whole number that can evenly divide another number without leaving a remainder.
For example, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 because each of these numbers can be multiplied by another whole number to equal 12.
Factors are important in many mathematical concepts, including prime factorization and finding the greatest common factor (GCF) or least common multiple (LCM) of numbers.
They are fundamental for simplifying fractions, solving equations, and understanding the relationships between numbers in various mathematical operations.