( 107 )

The Natural Numbers

The Natural Numbers are

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, .. }
which are the numbers you count with.
This set of lessons will get you more familiar with
these numbers. In them you will learn that
numbers have shape as well as size
numbers are either even or odd
numbers are either composite or prime
all natural numbers can be expressed as the
product of prime numbers
stephenbankes@gmail.com

http://142.23.40.13/courses

( 1071 )

Shapes of Numbers

( 1072 )

Perfect Squares and their Roots

( 1073 )

Factoring

( 1074 )

Rainbow Factors

( 1075 )

Divisibility

( 1076 )

Finding Primes

( 1077 )

Prime Factorization

ASSIGNMENT

( 1071 )

Shapes of Numbers

EXERCISES

Numbers come in all shapes and sizes.

You know that numbers can be small - such as 1 or 2 - or large - such as
1,000 or 1,000,000.
You even know that numbers can be odd ( 1, 3, 5 ) or even ( 2, 4, 6 )
but did you know that numbers also have their own shape?
Examine these shapes for the numbers 1 to 10

Some numbers such as 2, 3, 5, or 7 can only be drawn as a single row of dots.

Why this is so, is because they can be factored in only one way ( ie: 7 = 1 7
)
Others, such as 6, 8, or 10 can be drawn either as a row of dots or as a
rectangle of dots.
The reason for this is that these numbers can be factored in several ways.
For example,
6 = 1 6

has a shape of a single row of dots

6 = 2 3

has a shape of a double row of dots

Then, there are those perfect squares, such as 4 or 9, which can be drawn as a
square as well as a row of dots.
This is because these numbers can also be expressed as a square.
9 = 1 9
2

9 = 3

has a shape of a single row of dots

has a shape of a 3 by 3 square of dots

The exponent ( 2 ) in 3
ie:

3
2

The number 3

is shorthand for 3 3

= 3 3

( called "3 squared" ) equals 9

Lets briefly explore some of these numbers and their shapes.

EXAMPLES
1. Positive whole numbers which have two different factors are called PRIME
NUMBERS.
Examples are 2, 3, 5, and 7. Prime number shapes do not include
rectangular arrays of dots.
For example: 7 - whose factors are 1 and 7 - can only be formed with the
row of dots
7 = 1 7

{ * * * * * * * }

Which of the numbers from 11 to 20 are prime numbers?

ANSWER: { 11, 13, 17, 19 } which we know from
11 = 1 11

{ * * * * * * * * * * * }

13 = 1 13

{ * * * * * * * * * * * * * }

17 = 1 17

{ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * }

19 = 1 19

{ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * }

2. PERFECT SQUARES are numbers that can be drawn as a square array of dots.
4

16

How many perfect squares are there that are less than or equal to 100?
ANSWER: there are 10 perfect squares that are less than or equal to 100.
These are { 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100 }
1 = 1

= 1

36 = 6

= 6

4 = 2

= 2

49 = 7

= 7

9 = 3

= 3

64 = 8

= 8

= 9

= 10

16 = 4

= 4

81 = 9

25 = 5

= 5

100 = 2

10

3. Some perfect squares ( 4, or 9 ) can be drawn as a row of dots or as a

square of dots.
Other perfect squares can also be drawn with rectangles of dots. How
many ways can 36 be drawn?
ANSWER: 5 ways, which we know from
36 = 1 36

( 1 row of 36 dots )

= 2 18

( rectangle with 2 rows of 18 dots )

= 3 12

( rectangle with 3 rows of 12 dots )

= 4 9

( rectangle with 4 rows of 9 dots )

= 6 6

( square with 6 rows of 6 dots )

4. How many ways can the number 18 be displayed?

ANSWER: 3 ways as you can see with

5. TRIANGULAR NUMBERS are those that can be drawn as TRIANGLES

3

10

These numbers have the property that

3 = 1 + 2
6 = 1 + 2 + 3
10 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4

Can you guess what the next three triangular numbers are?
ANSWER: { 15, 21, 28 } which we get from

15 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5

21 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 +

28 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 +

6 + 7

( 1071 )

Shapes of Numbers

1. COMPOSITE NUMBERS are those which can be drawn in more than one way.
The number 12 is composite. How many ways can 12 be drawn?

2. Explain why the number 25 is a perfect square.

3. Why is 5

not equal to 5 2 ?

4. Illustrate how 24 can be drawn in 4 ways.

hint: 24
24
24
24

=
=
=
=

1
2
3
4

24
12
8
6

5. A prime number can only be drawn as a single line of dots.

For example, 5 is prime, because it can only be drawn as { * * * * * }
Which of { 23, 24, 25 } are composite numbers and which are prime
numbers?

6. The first six triangular numbers are { 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28 }

What are the next two triangular numbers?

EXERCISES

Perfect Squares and their Roots

( 1072 )

Perfect Squares are numbers, such as { 4, 9, 16, 25 } that can be drawn as

squares

Perfect Squares can also be expressed as POWERS of TWO

2

4 = 2

9 = 3

16 = 4

25 = 5

Take 25, which is 5 rows of 5 dots: as a power of 2, we have

25 = 5 5
2

= 5

The notation 5

means 5 5

The superscript 2 in 5

22

is called an EXPONENT or POWER

= 5 5

is NOT EQUAL to 5 2

NOTE: 5

The first 15 perfect squares are

1
2

4
2

9
2

16
2

25
2

36
2

49
2

64
2

81
2

100
2

10

121
2

11

144
2

12

169
2

13

196
2

14

225
2

15

EXAMPLES
1. The SQUARE ROOTS of PERFECT SQUARES

2. Is 3

2 =

because

4 = 2

3 =

because

9 = 3

4 =

16

because

16 = 4

5 =

25

because

25 = 5

equal to 9?

ANSWER: NO, since 3

= 3 3 = 9

= 3 3 3 = 27

3. PERFECT SQUARES are RELATED to the ODD NUMBERS

1 + 3 = 44

1 + 3 + 5 = 99

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 = 1166

which tells you that the sum of the first N odd numbers is equal to N

4. Perfect Squares and the Sum of Consecutive Odd Numbers can be visualized
with
1 = 1

1 + 3 = 2

1 + 3 + 5 = 3

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 = 4

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 5

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 = 6

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 = 7

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 = 8

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 + 17 = 9

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 + 17 + 19 = 10

5. What is the sum of the first dozen odd numbers

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 + 17 + 19 + 21 + 23 = ?

ANSWER:
1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 + 17 + 19 + 21 + 23 = 1 4 4
since 144 = 12

6. What is the sum of the first 50 odd numbers?

ANSWER: 2 5 0 0 , since 2500 = 50

7. Verify these results

16

= 256

means that

256 =

16

25

= 625

means that

625 =

25

31

= 961

means that

961 =

31

36 = 6

means that

= 36

49 = 7

means that

= 49

64 = 8

means that

= 64

8. TRUE / FALSE

9 =

4 9

9 =

36 = 6

TRUE since

whereas

4 9 = 2

9. A CONJECTURE
The fact that
9 2 = 18

and

= 81

implies that
8 2 = 16

means that

= 61

Is this conjecture true?

NO, it is utter RUBBISH since 8

= 8 8 = 64

10

( 1072 )

Perfect Squares and their Roots

1. List the factors for these Perfect Squares

PERFECT SQUARE

FACTORS

1, 2, 4

1, 3, 9

1 = 1
4 = 2
9 = 3

16 = 4

25 = 5

36 = 6

49 = 7

64 = 8

81 = 9

100 = 10

121 = 11

2. Which perfect squares less than 100 have exactly three factors?

3. What is the sum of the first eleven odd numbers

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15 + 17 + 19 + 21

11

4. Complete the table

4 = _______
9 = 3
16 = _______
25 = _______
36 = _______
49 = _______
64 = _______
81 = _______
100 = _______
121 = _______
144 = _______
169 = _______
196 = _______
225 = _______
5. If

= _________

= 9

= _______

= _________

= _________

= _________

= _________

= _________

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

= _________

= _________

= _________

= _________

= _________

= _________

10
11
12
13
14
15

= ***

then

= ?

6. True / False
1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 5
2

= 3 2

= 2

+ 2

3
1
1

1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 =
4 9 = 4 9

= 25

= 16

5
2

+ 3

= 9

12

( 1073 )

Factoring

EXERCISES

The factors of a number are those positive numbers which divide evenly into
it.
When factoring, try to arrange the factors from smallest to largest and
remember that 1 and i t s e l f must be included.
EXAMPLES

The factors of 12
are { 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 }
since

The factors of 14
are { 1, 2, 7, 14 }
since

12 =
=
=
=
=
=

14 =
=
=
=

1 12
2 6
3 4
4 3
6 2
12 1

note the repetition

1 14
2 7
7 2
14 1

The factors of 11
are { 1, 11 }
since

The factors of 16
are { 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 }
since

11 = 1 11
= 11 1

16 =
=
=
=
=

13

1 16
2 8
4 4
8 2
16 1

( 1073 )

Factoring

1. List the factors from smallest to largest.

6

( exclude duplicates )

9
The factors of 8
are { 1, 2, 4, 8 }
since
8 =
=
=
=

1
2
4
8

8
4
2
1

10

13

15

17

18

19

14

21

22

24
The factors of 24
are
{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24 }

since
24 =
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
25

27

28

31

33

34

15

1 24
2 12
3 8
4 6
6 4
8 3
12 2
24 1

35

36

39

40

42

44

45

47

49

The factors of 45
are
{ 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 45 }

since
45 = 1 45
= 3 15
= 5 9
= 9 5
= 15 3
= 45 1

2. What is the smallest number of factors that a number can have,

if the number is greater than 1?

3. A PRIME NUMBER is a number which have TWO DIFFERENT FACTORS.

Which of the numbers { 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 } are prime?

16

Rainbow Factors

( 1074 )

EXERCISES

All of the natural numbers can be factored into a product of smaller numbers.
For example, the number 6 can be factored in four ways
6 = 1 6
= 2 3
= 3 2
= 6 1

and it has the four factors { 1, 2, 3, 6 }

NOTE:

2 3

which is 2 rows of 3

means that same thing as

3 2

which is 3 rows of 2

The factors of 6 can be displayed with BOWS or RAINBOWS, as with

long way

short way

Viewing the factors of natural numbers with rainbows reveals curious things
about numbers, as this lesson will reveal.
EXAMPLES
1. Illustrate both the long and the short way for the rainbow factors of 8

17

2. PERFECT SQUARES such as 4 look like

The little bow above the 2 reminds you that 4 = 2

Draw rainbow factors for 9, 16, and 25

SOLUTION

9 = 1 9
= 3 3

16 = 1 16
= 2 8
= 4 4

25 = 1 25
= 5 5

3. Some perfect squares, such as { 9, 25 } have TWO bows in their rainbow,

and others such as 16, have THREE bows.
Give another example of perfect squares with TWO and THREE bows in their
rainbow.
SOLUTION

49 = 1 49
= 7 7

81 = 1 81
= 3 27
= 9 9

4. Find two numbers that

could be used for.

ANSWER

18

( 1074 )

Rainbow Factors

1. Illustrate how 25 can be factored as a rainbow

2. Explain why the number 25 is a perfect square.

3. Illustrate how 24 can be factored as a rainbow

4. Illustrate how 72 can be factored as a rainbow

5. Which of ( 64, 72, 81 ) has the most factors?

6. Prime numbers are those which have two different factors.

Which of { 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 } are prime
numbers?

7. Which of { 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100 } has exactly three
different factors?

19

( 1075 )

EXERCISES

Divisibility

Related Materials:

Rules for Divisibility

Division

Decimals

One of the most interesting things about natural numbers is DIVISIBILITY.

DIVISIBILITY is a branch of arithmetic which determines whether one
particular number divides evenly into another
There are rules for divisibility by any number, but for these lessons we will
cover just a few - that you should never leave home without.
THE DIVISIBILITY RULES state that a number will divide by
22:

if right-most-digit is one of { 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 }

33:

if its digits add up to any of { 3, 6, 9 }

44:

if the number divides twice by 2

55:

if it ends with one of { 0, 5 }

66:

if it divides by both 2 and 3

77:

NO EASY RULE, so DO THE DIVISION ( more )

88:

if it divides three times by 2

99:

if the sum of its digits add to 9

1100:

if it ends with a 0

1111: if the digits alternately add and subtract to a number which divides
by 11

EXAMPLES
1. Does 561 divide by 3?
ANSWER: YES since the sum of the digits of 561 : 5 + 6 + 1 is 12,
and the sum of the digits of 12 : 1 + 2 = 3
and 3 is one of { 3, 6, 9 }

2. By just looking, can you see if 561 divides by 11?

ANSWER: YES, since

5 6 + 1 = 0

divides by 11

A calculator reveals that 561 11 = 51

20

3. Does 46 divide by 2?
ANSWER: YES since 46 ends with a 6 which is one of { 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 }
EVEN NUMBERS are natural numbers which end with { 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 }
ODD NUMBERS are natural numbers which end with { 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 }

4. Does 51 divide by 3?
ANSWER: YES since the sum of the digits 5 + 1 = 6,
which is one of { 3, 6, 9 }

5. Does 91 divide by 7?
ANSWER: YES since, 91 = 13 7
TAKE a WALK in 7's to verify this
7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 98

6. By just looking, can you see if 253 divides by 11?

ANSWER: YES!, since, 2 5 + 3 = 0, which divides by 11
It so happens that 253 = 23 11

7. By just looking, can you see if 351 divides by 9?

ANSWER: YES, since, 3 + 5 + 1 = 9
Note that 351 9 = 39

8. By just looking, can you see if 353 divides by 3?

ANSWER: NOPE, since, 3 + 5 + 3 = 11
and 1 + 1 = 2 which is NOT one of { 3, 6, 9 }

9. By just looking, can you see if 929192 divides by 11?

ANSWER: YES!, since 9 - 2 + 9 - 1 + 9 - 2 = 22, which divides by 11
It so happens that 929192 = 84472 11

21

( 1075 )

Divisibility

1. Does 57 divide evenly by 3?

2. By just looking, can you see if 5775 divides by 11?

3. Which numbers less than 25 have four different factors?

4. How many factors does the number 64 have?

22

5. How many factors does the number 72 have?

6. Which of the numbers { 1424, 1423, 1824 } is divisible by 3

7. What number is 25 a perfect square of?

8. Illustrate how 24 can be factored as a rainbow

23

( 1076 )

EXERCISES

Finding Primes

scripts

The objective of this lesson is to help you determine if a number is prime or

composite.
Recall that PRIMES ( prime numbers ) are positive numbers which have exactly
two d i f f e r e n t divisors whereas COMPOSITES are those which have more than two
different factors.
PRIMES: { 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, ... }
COMPOSITE: { 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, ... }

Note that

1 i s n o t a p r i m e n u m b e r , as it has only 1 divisor.

Primes are positive integers that have these unique properties

they have only 2 different factors ( ie: 17 = 1 17 "

all of them are odd numbers except 2

all natural numbers can be expressed as a product of prime factors
There are 25 prime numbers less than 100 and you are advised to get to know
them.
EXAMPLES
1. Determine if 51 prime.
ANSWER: 51 is COMPOSITE since it has more than 2 different factors.
We get this by checking to see which numbers { 2, 3, .. } divide into 51
51 does not divide by 2 since it is not an even number
51 divides by 3 since 5 + 1 = 6 is one of { 3, 6, 9 }

A calculator reveals that 51 3 = 17, hence we know that 51 has

at least the factors { 1, 3, 17, 51 } which means more than 2 different
factors.
2. Determine if 71 is prime.
ANSWER: 71 is PRIME since it has only 2 different factors.
We get this by checking to see which numbers { 2, 3, .. } divide into 71
71 does not divide by 2, since it is not an even number
71 does not divide by 3, since 7 + 1 = 8 is not one of { 3, 6, 9 }
71 does not divide by 4, since 71 does not divide by 2
71 does not divide by 5, since it doesn't end with 0 or 5
71 does not divide by 6, since 71 does not divide by 2
71 does not divide by 7, since { 70, 77, .. } misses 71
71 does not divide by 8, since 71 does not divide by 2
71 does not divide by 9, since it doesn't divide by 3
71 does not divide by 10, since 71 does not divide by 5

We need not go any further because 10 x 7 = 70 and so, if any number

greater than 10 divides into 71 that number must be less than 7.

24

3. Determine if 91 is prime.
ANSWER: 91 is COMPOSITE since it has more than 2 divisors
We get this by checking to see which numbers { 2, 3, .. } divide into 91
91 does not divide by 2, since it is not an even number
91 does not divide by 3, since 9 + 1 = 10, 1 + 0 = 1 is not one of { 3, 6, 9 }
91 does not divide by 5 since it doesn't end with 0 or 5
91 divides by 7 which is evident when you look at the multiples of 7
{ 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 9911 }

The last point tells you that 91 = 13 x 7

Hence we know that the factors of 91 are { 1, 7, 13, 91 }
Note that we did not bother checking divibility by 4 or 6, since 91 does
not divide by 2 or 3.

25

The SIEVE of Eratosthenes

T h e r e a r e 2 5 p r i m e n u m b e r s b e t w e e n 1 a n d 1 000
0 .. can you find them?

Around 200 BC, there lived a man named Eratosthenes, who worked at
the great library of Alexandria in Egypt.
Eratosthenes came up with this method called the SIEVE to determine
the prime numbers. Here is how the sieve works.
Circle the 2 then strike out all multiples of 2
Next, circle the 3 then strike out all multiples of 3
Next, circle the 5 then strike out all multiples of 5
Next, circle the 7 then strike out all multiples of 7
Next, circle the 11 then strike out all multiples of 11
Next, circle the 13 then strike out all multiples of 13
What you are left with are the 25 primes
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19
23, 29, 31, . . . , 89, 97
If you are on a computer, you can see how this works by clicking on
the first 5 primes, starting with 2
If you are not, use pencil and a ruler to rule out the composite
numbers.
When you are done, you should be left with 25 circled numbers which
are the primes less than 100.

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

26

( 1076 )

Finding Primes

SIEVE of ERATOTHENES

1. Give three things about prime numbers that makes them unique.
i.

ii.

iii.

2. Which of { 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 } are composite and which
are prime?

3. There are five 2 digit primes less than 100 which have a 9 in the ones
place.
These primes are { 19, 29, 59, 79, 89 }
List all the 2 digit primes less than 100 which have a 7 in the ones
place.

27

4. Are there any even primes?

5. Use the SIEVE of ERATHOSTHENES to identify the first 25 prime numbers

6. Which of { 87, 89, 91, 97 } are composite and which are prime?

7. Is there a natural number which is neither prime nor composite?

Support your answer with an example.

28

( 1077 )

EXERCISES

Prime Factorization

scripts

The NATURAL NUMBERS { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, .. } can be categorized as either PRIME

or COMPOSITE.
PRIMES: { 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, ... }
COMPOSITE: { 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, ... }
PRIME NUMBER are those which have exactly two ddiiffffeerreenntt divisors.
Note that

1 i s n o t a p r i m e n u m b e r , as it has only 1 divisor.

Composite numbers can always be factored into a unique product of prime

numbers.
EXAMPLES
1.

The STEM and LEAF Method of PRIME FACTORIZATION uses sticks for stems
and primes
as leaves and treats each number as a product of a prime times another
number.
For each layer, you start with the lowest prime ( 2 ) and factor until
both are primes.
For example, consider the
number 30
30 =

15 =

15

which means that

30 = 2

29

2.

Use the Stem and Leaf

method to express 60 as
a product of its prime
factors.
ANSWER: 60 = 2

30

30 =

15

15 =

which means that

since

60 =

60 =

Note: you could write this using exponents as: 60 = 2

where
2

= 2

30

3.

Expressing other numbers as a product of their prime factors.

22

4 = 2

2 = 22

6 = 22

33

8 = 4

= 2

33

= 22

22

9 = 33

12 = 4
22

= 22
16 = 8

= 2

33

33

33

44

= 22

24 = 12
2

= 2

33

= 22

48 = 16
44

= 22

31

( 1077 )

Prime Factorization

SIEVE of ERATOTHENES

1. Use the STEM and LEAF Method to display the prime factors
60

124

110

210

32

2. Express as a product of prime factors.

a.

12

b.

24

c.

42

d.

48

e.

64

f.

72

g.

91

h.

108

i.

171

j.

201

3. Which number less than 100 has the most prime factors?

33

( 107 )

The Natural Numbers

1. S h a p e s o f N u m b e r s
a. List 7 different perfect squares that are less than 50

b. List the trianglular numbers that are less than 50

2. Display as rainbow factors

36

64

3. P e r f e c t S q u a r e s a n d t h e i r R o o t s
2

a.

= ____________

b.

49 = ____________

c.

The sum of the first 1000 odd numbers is ____________

34

4. D i v i s i b i l i t y
a.

Which of { 72, 411, 715, 81136, 18844, 123456 } divides by 3

b.

Which of { 72, 411, 715, 81136, 18844, 123456 } divides by 11

5. F i n d i n g P r i m e s
a. What is the smallest prime number?

b. There are six 2 digit primes that are less than 100 which have a 3
in the units place. What are they?

c. List the 25 prime numbers which are less than 100

35

6. P r i m e F a c t o r i z a t i o n
Use the Stem and Leaf method to display the prime factors for
36

140

24

105

36