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Factors of 6 – Definition With Examples

Phoebe Belza-Barrientos

Updated on March 10, 2026

Factors of 6 are whole numbers that divide 6 without leaving a remainder. In this article, we are going to look at factors and, more specifically, discover which number is a factor of 6. We’ll understand what factors are, what they are important, and how you can determine them.

What are the factors of 6?

In the simplest form possible, the factors of 6 are numbers whose product is 6. 

The factors of 6 in pairs are 1 and 6, and 2 and 3, because when we multiply 1 by 6, we get 6. Likewise, when we multiply 2 by 3, we get 6.

Therefore, the factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, and 6 when arranged in order.

Definition of factors

Factors are numbers that divide a given number exactly without leaving a remainder.

Take, for example, the number 8. The factors are 1 and 8, and 2 and 4. This means when we multiply 1 by 8, we get 8, and when we multiply 2 by 4, we also get 8.

Therefore, factors of 8 are 1, 2, 4, and 8.

We can also deduce that the factors of a number are numbers that can divide the given number without any remainder. After all, 1,2,4, and 8 can be divided into 8 without any remainder.

When learning about factors, you may come across the term “common factors.” A common factor is a number that divides two integers exactly, and so, it requires at least two numbers to compare. For example, 2 and 4 are the common factors of numbers 4 and 8, as you can divide both 4 and 8 by 2 and 4.

Definition of factors for 6

The factors of 6 are numbers that have 6 as their product result when multiplied. The factors of 6 are numbers that divide 6 without leaving a remainder.

Thus, all factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, and 6.

If we multiply 1 by 6, the answer is 6. If we multiply 2 by 3, the answer is 6.

We discussed the number 8 earlier, right? Common factors of 6 and 8, for example, would be 1 and 2, as you can divide both 6 and 8 by 1 and 2 evenly.

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Properties of factors of 6

These are the properties of all the 6 factors:

• 1 is a factor of 6 
• The number 6 itself is a factor of six
• All the factors are less than or equal to the number 6
• The factors of 6 are whole numbers; they are not fractions or decimals.
• The factors of -6 are -6, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, and 6.

Properties of factors

The following are properties that are common to all factors of all numbers, and the 6 factors:

• 1 and the number itself are constant factors of a given number
• The factors can only be whole numbers
• Factors cannot be greater than the given number. Instead, they are always less than or equal to the number.

Method of finding factors of six

Finding factors of six means finding the numbers which can divide the number without a remainer:

From this, we see that 2 and 3 are factors of 6, and from the second instance, 6 and 1 are factors of 6. This gives us the following list of factors: 2, 3, 1, and 6.

For small numbers like 6, it’s quite easy to define factors even without many calculations. As the numbers grow, so do the number of their factors. The calculations may get a bit harder, but the logic is the same: if number a can be divided by number b without a remainder, then number b is a factor of number a.

Difference Between Factors and Multiples

Factors are numbers that when multiplied, result in a different number. For example, if we list the factors of 6, we get 2, 3,1 and 6.  

Multiples, however, are the results we get from multiplying a certain number by other whole numbers. For example, the multiples of 6 are 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, etc.

You can think of factors as the building blocks of the multiple.

The multiples of a number can be endless, but the factors are limited.

What is the prime factorization of 6?

The prime factorization method involves dividing a number by its prime factors. To do this, we divide the number by its smallest divisible factor, the next smallest, and so on until the quotient is 1. 

Now, let’s look at what is a factor of 6 and how we can write it. 

The smallest prime component of 6 is 2. We divide 6 by 2, giving us 3, which is the next prime factor of 6. 

Following the steps above, the prime factorization of 6 will thus be: 6 / 2 = 3

2 and 3 are the prime factors of 6.

Factors of 6 in pairs

Factor pairs are, as was briefly mentioned in the beginning, simply the pairs of numbers that you multiply together to get the third number. For example, the factor pairs of 4 are (1, 4) and (2, 2). These pairs, when multiplied together, yield 4. 

Now, we know that 2 and 3 are the prime factors of 6. We also know that 1 and the number itself are factors of any given number. So, the factor pairs of 6 are (2, 3) and (1, 6). 

Factor of 6: Solved examples

Solved math problem 1

Answer the following true or false questions:

• The multiples of 6 are similar to the factors of 6
• 1 is a factor of 6 and a factor of every number 
• The prime factors of 6 are 2 and 3
• 6 is the greatest common factor of 6 and 8
• With the 6 prime factorization equation, we get 2 and 3 as the prime factors of 6

Solution

• False. The multiples of 6 are 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, etc.
• True. 1 is a factor of not just 6, but all numbers.
• True. 2 and 3 are the only factors of 6 that are divisible by 1 and themselves. 
• False. The greatest common factor of any two numbers is the largest factor that they have in common. Here, the greatest common factor is 2.
• True. The prime factors of 6 are 2 and 3

Factors of 6 – Definition With Examples

Frequently Asked Questions on Factors of 6

What are all the factors of 6?

All factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, and 6. 

How do you find the factors of a number?

We find the factors of a number by listing the numbers that can divide it without leaving a remainder. These numbers must also result in the same number when multiplied.

What is the difference between factors and multiples?

Factors are numbers that can divide a number without a remainder. Multiples are numbers obtained by multiplying a number by whole numbers.

Is 6 a factor of 6?

Yes, 6 is a factor of 6. A factor is a number we can evenly divide into another number without any remainder. 6 meets this criterion, as 6 divided by 6 is 1 (no remainder). The greatest common factor of 6 is also 6.

Phoebe Belza-Barrientos

23 articles

Phoebe Belza-Barrientos is a Brighterly math tutor with 13 years of teaching background. Math is far more than just another basic subject for Phoebe; it’s a passion she now channels into every lesson. She builds study materials in a way that her students begin to feel the same discovery and enjoyment as she did in her school years.