Is 16 a prime number? Prime numbers are natural numbers greater than 1 that have exactly two distinct positive divisors. The answer is clear: "16 is not a prime number." As the first non-trivial fourth power and a highly composite number, 16 holds special significance in mathematics and computing. Let's examine why.
- Is 16 a prime number? - No
- Is 16 a composite number? - Yes
- Is 16 a perfect square? - Yes (4² = 16)
- Is 16 a perfect cube? - No
- Is 16 a perfect fourth power? - Yes (2⁴ = 16)
- Prime Factors of 16 - 2
- Factors of 16 - 1, 2, 4, 8, 16
Is 16 a Prime or Composite Number?
Is 16 a Prime Number?
No, 16 is not a prime number. It fails the requirements for primality:
- It has more than two distinct positive divisors (1, 2, 4, 8, 16)
- It can be expressed as a product of smaller natural numbers (2×8, 4×4, or 2×2×2×2)
Why is 16 a Composite Number?
16 holds several special mathematical properties:
- It's the smallest number with exactly five divisors
- It's the square of 4 and the fourth power of 2
- It's the atomic number of sulfur (S) on the periodic table
- It's the base of the hexadecimal number system (fundamental in computing)
- It's the only integer that equals mⁿ = nᵐ where m ≠ n (2⁴ = 4²)
Is 16 a Special Number?
Yes, 16 is exceptionally special because:
- It's a highly composite number (more divisors than any smaller number)
- It's the first non-trivial fourth power (2⁴)
- It appears frequently in computer science (16-bit systems, hexadecimal)
- It's the maximum number of moves needed to solve a 4×4 Rubik's Revenge cube
Problem Statements:
| Property | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is 16 a Prime Number? | No |
| Is 16 a Composite Number? | Yes |
| Is 16 a Perfect Square? | Yes |
| Is 16 an Even Number? | Yes |
| Multiples of 16 | 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160,... |
| Square Root of 16 | 4 |
| Square of 16 | 256 |
| Is 16 a Perfect Cube? | No |
| Cube Root of 16 | ≈2.51984 |
| Is 16 an Odd Number? | No |
| Fourth Power of 2 | 16 |
Fun Facts:
- Sweet 16 parties celebrate a teenager's 16th birthday in the US and Canada
- There are 16 ounces in a pound (avoirdupois system)
- In chess, each player starts with 16 pieces
- The 16th amendment established US federal income tax
- Hexadecimal (base-16) is fundamental in computing and web design (#RRGGBB colors)
- There are 16 personality types in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
- In tennis, the maximum number of players seeded in a tournament is typically 16
- 16 is the minimum age for getting a driver's license in many US states
- In the Bible, Jacob had 16 grandsons through his son Joseph
- 16mm film was a popular home movie format before video
- There are 16 cups in a US gallon