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Factors of 27

Every whole number that divides 27 exactly, the factor pairs, and how to find them yourself.

The answer

The factors of 27 are 1, 3, 9 and 27.

Factor pairs of 27

PairMakes
1 × 2727
3 × 927

Prime factors of 27

Prime factorisation
27 = 3 × 3 × 3 (3³)
Is 27 prime?
No. It has 4 factors, not just 1 and 27.
Is 27 a square number?
No. 5 × 5 = 25 and 6 × 6 = 36, so 27 falls between two square numbers.

How to find the factors of 27

27 is odd, so every even number you try will fail. Its digits add up to 9, a multiple of 9, so 3 and 9 are factors. Work up from 1 to 5, and write down both numbers in every pair you find.

  1. 27 ÷ 1 = 27, so 1 × 27 is a pair.
  2. 2 does not go into 27 exactly.
  3. 27 ÷ 3 = 9, so 3 × 9 is a pair.
  4. 4 does not go into 27 exactly.
  5. 5 does not go into 27 exactly.

Stop at 6: 6 × 6 = 36, which is more than 27. The next pair you would find is 9 × 3, which is 3 × 9 turned round, so you already have every pair.

27 in the times tables

3 × 9 = 27. Practise the 3 times table and 9 times table.

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Questions parents ask

What is the largest factor of 27, apart from 27 itself?

9. Divide 27 by its smallest factor above 1, which is 3: 27 ÷ 3 = 9.

What do the factors of 27 add up to?

40. Leaving out 27 itself, they add up to 13, which is less than 27, so 27 is called a deficient number.

Which number after 27 has the same number of factors?

33. Like 27, it has exactly 4 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.