Is 14 a prime number? Prime numbers are natural numbers greater than 1 that have exactly two distinct positive divisors. The answer is clear: "14 is not a prime number." As the first composite number after 12, 14 holds interesting properties in mathematics and appears in various real-world contexts. Let's examine why.
- Is 14 a prime number? - No
- Is 14 a composite number? - Yes
- Is 14 a perfect square? - No
- Is 14 a perfect cube? - No
- Prime Factors of 14 - 2, 7
- Factors of 14 - 1, 2, 7, 14
Is 14 a Prime or Composite Number?
Is 14 a Prime Number?
No, 14 is not a prime number. It fails the requirements for primality:
- It has more than two distinct positive divisors (1, 2, 7, 14)
- It can be expressed as a product of smaller natural numbers (2 × 7)
Why is 14 a Composite Number?
14 holds several interesting mathematical properties:
- It's the sum of the first three squares (1² + 2² + 3² = 14)
- It's the smallest even number that's neither a power of 2 nor twice a prime
- It's the atomic number of silicon (Si) on the periodic table
- It's a Keith number in base 10 (1, 4, 5, 9, 14...)
- It's the number of days in a fortnight
Is 14 a Special Number?
Yes, 14 is special because:
- It's the smallest number n where the number of reduced Latin squares differs from the number of total Latin squares
- It's the maximum number of electrons that can fit in an f orbital subshell
- It appears in the solution to the "fourteen fifteen puzzle" (similar to the fifteen puzzle)
Problem Statements:
| Property | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is 14 a Prime Number? | No |
| Is 14 a Composite Number? | Yes |
| Is 14 a Perfect Square? | No |
| Is 14 an Even Number? | Yes |
| Multiples of 14 | 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 140,... |
| Square Root of 14 | ≈3.74166 |
| Square of 14 | 196 |
| Is 14 a Perfect Cube? | No |
| Cube Root of 14 | ≈2.41014 |
| Is 14 an Odd Number? | No |
Fun Facts:
- Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th
- There are 14 pounds in a stone (British measurement)
- In tennis, the number 14 is significant as Pete Sampras won 14 Grand Slam titles
- The 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution addresses citizenship rights
- Sonnet 14 is one of Shakespeare's famous sonnets ("Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck")
- There are 14 stations of the cross in Christian tradition
- In tarot, card XIV is Temperance (balance and moderation)
- The human body has 14 phalanges in each hand (finger bones)
- Fourteen is the age of criminal responsibility in many countries
- The maximum number of days possible between two consecutive new moons is 14