技工印象中,小學教質數之前,會先教因數(factor)。而列出所有因數的主要方法是列出因數對(factor pair)。29Please respect copyright.PENANA55zS3JgSlk
以42為例。我們首先測試1能否整除42……當然可以,duh!
42 = 1 × 42 ✔️
由於乘法具有交換性質(commutative property),乘號右方的42也是42的因數。
然後,我們測試2、3、4,如此類推。
42 = 1 × 42 ✔️29Please respect copyright.PENANArXsDtohR0X
= 2 × 21 ✔️29Please respect copyright.PENANAXVyEvaBeOd
= 3 × 14 ✔️29Please respect copyright.PENANACjVJ6MlaVK
= 4 × 10 + 2 ❌
過程中,我們會發現有些數不能整除42,例如 42 ÷ 4 會得餘數2,所以4和不是42因數。同理,10也不是其因數。
我們繼續。
42 = 1 × 42 ✔️29Please respect copyright.PENANARu1SKlpODa
= 2 × 21 ✔️29Please respect copyright.PENANARWEL1crPGI
= 3 × 14 ✔️29Please respect copyright.PENANA5GjMlN2vbG
= 4 × 10 + 2 ❌29Please respect copyright.PENANATyUrREbAX8
= 5 × 8 + 2 ❌29Please respect copyright.PENANAVUVpnKuroA
= 6 × 7 ✔️29Please respect copyright.PENANAu6m0rJZPNH
= 7 × 6 🛑
當乘號左方不再小於右方就可以停了。如果再測試下去的話只會重複找到乘號右方的因數。
由此,我們找到42有四個因數對,共八個因數:
42 = 1 × 4229Please respect copyright.PENANAgOk5OpVmGn
= 2 × 2129Please respect copyright.PENANA41qFhXuuR3
= 3 × 1429Please respect copyright.PENANA3Zb8WmjYOa
= 6 × 7
當某數只有一個因數對,我們就可以斷定這是個質數。
17 = 1 × 1729Please respect copyright.PENANAHgzQBwxVZf


