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Factors of 17

Every whole number that divides 17 exactly, the factor pairs, and how to find them yourself.

The answer

The factors of 17 are 1 and 17. 17 is a prime number.

Factor pairs of 17

PairMakes
1 × 1717

Prime factors of 17

Prime factorisation
17 = 17
Is 17 prime?
Yes. It is the 7th prime number.
Is 17 a square number?
No. 4 × 4 = 16 and 5 × 5 = 25, so 17 falls between two square numbers.

How to find the factors of 17

17 is prime, so the only pair you will find is 1 × 17. Work up from 1 to 4, and write down both numbers in every pair you find.

  1. 17 ÷ 1 = 17, so 1 × 17 is a pair.
  2. 2 does not go into 17 exactly.
  3. 3 does not go into 17 exactly.
  4. 4 does not go into 17 exactly.

Stop at 5: 5 × 5 = 25, which is more than 17. The next pair you would find is 17 × 1, which is 1 × 17 turned round, so you already have every pair.

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Questions parents ask

What is the largest factor of 17, apart from 17 itself?

1. 17 is prime, so apart from 17 itself its only factor is 1.

What do the factors of 17 add up to?

18. Leaving out 17 itself, they add up to 1, which is less than 17, so 17 is called a deficient number.

Which number after 17 has the same number of factors?

19. Like 17, it has exactly 2 factors.

Number facts are the base of 11+ maths

Factors, multiples, primes and square numbers come up all over 11+ maths, from simplifying fractions to ratio. The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.