Is 4 a prime number? Prime numbers are natural numbers greater than 1 that have exactly two distinct positive divisors. The answer is clear: "4 is not a prime number." In fact, it's the first composite number after 1. Let's examine why this is the case.
- Is 4 a prime number? - No
- Is 4 a composite number? - Yes
- Is 4 a perfect square? - Yes
- Prime Factors of 4 - 2
- Factors of 4 - 1, 2, 4
Is 4 a Prime or Composite Number?
Is 4 a Prime Number?
No, 4 is not a prime number. It fails to meet the requirements for primality:
- While it is a natural number greater than 1
- It has three distinct positive divisors (1, 2, and 4)
- It can be expressed as a product of smaller natural numbers (2 × 2)
Why is 4 Not a Prime Number?
4 holds several notable positions in mathematics:
- It's the first composite number (after 1)
- It's the smallest squared prime (2² = 4)
- It's the only even number that is both a square and one less than a prime (4 = 2² and 5 is prime)
Is 4 a Composite Number?
Yes, 4 is definitely a composite number. Composite numbers have more than two distinct positive divisors. Since 4 has three divisors, it qualifies as composite.
Problem Statements:
| Property | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is 4 a Prime Number? | No |
| Is 4 a Composite Number? | Yes |
| Is 4 a Perfect Square? | Yes |
| Is 4 an Even Number? | Yes |
| Multiples of 4 | 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40,... |
| Square Root of 4 | 2 |
| Square of 4 | 16 |
| Is 4 a Perfect Cube? | No |
| Cube Root of 4 | ≈1.58740 |
| Is 4 an Odd Number? | No |
Fun Facts:
- 4 is the smallest composite number that is the square of a prime
- It's the only number in English with the same number of letters as its value (f-o-u-r)
- In many cultures, 4 represents stability (four seasons, four cardinal directions)
- All powers of 4 (4, 16, 64, etc.) end with either 4 or 6
- 4 is the first positive non-Fibonacci number
- In mathematics, 4 is the smallest order of a non-cyclic group