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Factors of 45 Explained with Examples

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What Are the Factors and Prime Factors of 45 in Maths?

The concept of factors of 45 plays a key role in mathematics and is widely applicable to both real-life situations and exam scenarios. Understanding these factors helps students solve problems on division, multiples, HCF, LCM, and more. This page provides definitions, tricks, solved examples, and quick tables—perfect for practice and revision.


What Are the Factors of 45?

A factor of 45 is any whole number that can divide 45 exactly, leaving no remainder. In other words, if you multiply two whole numbers together and the answer is 45, then both numbers are factors of 45. This concept appears in number theory, algebra, and everyday calculations (like dividing objects equally, finding common divisors, and checking divisibility).


How to Find Factors of 45 (Step-by-Step Guide)

  1. Start with 1 and 45.
    1 × 45 = 45. So, both are factors.
  2. Try the next whole numbers:
    2 × (does not work, 45 ÷ 2 = 22.5, not a whole number)
    3 × 15 = 45. Both are factors.
    4 × (does not work, as 45 ÷ 4 is not a whole number)
    5 × 9 = 45. Both are factors.
    6 × (does not work, 45 ÷ 6 = 7.5)
    Continue until you reach the square root of 45 (about 6.7). No new factors are found.
  3. Collect all valid results:
    1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 45

List of Factors of 45

The factors of 45 are:

  • 1
  • 3
  • 5
  • 9
  • 15
  • 45

For easier revision, here’s a pairs table:

Pair 1 Pair 2 Product
1 45 45
3 15 45
5 9 45

Prime Factors and Factor Tree of 45

Prime factorization means finding only those factors of 45 that are prime numbers. Let’s make a factor tree:

  1. Divide 45 by the smallest prime number. 45 ÷ 3 = 15
  2. Divide 15 by 3 again. 15 ÷ 3 = 5
  3. Now, 5 is a prime number. Stop here.

So, the prime factorization of 45 is: 45 = 3 × 3 × 5.

Or, as a factor tree:
45

3  15
  │
  3  5

The prime factors of 45 are 3 and 5.


Properties and Applications of Factors of 45

The number 45 is a composite number, as it has more than two factors. Its factors help in:

  • Finding the Highest Common Factor (HCF) with other numbers, such as in HCF and LCM problems.
  • Solving equations where 45 is to be divided equally among groups.
  • Quick division checks: Any number ending with 0 or 5 is not always a factor unless it divides evenly.
  • Simplifying fractions involving 45.

Fast Trick for Factors of 45

For any number, to quickly check for factors:

  1. If the sum of digits is 9 (4+5=9) – number is divisible by 3
  2. If the last digit is 5 or 0 – check 5 (45 ends with 5, so 5 is a factor)

Thus, 3 and 5 are always factors for 45, and their respective paired factors help complete the list. Vedantu teachers often share such tricks in live classes!


Practice Questions: Factors of 45

  • Is 9 a factor of 45?
  • Are 7 or 6 factors of 45?
  • What is the sum of all factors of 45?
  • Write negative factor pairs of 45.

Frequent Errors and Misunderstandings

  • Forgetting that factors must divide exactly (no remainder).
  • Missing negative factors: technically, -1, -3, -5, -9, -15, -45 are also factors!
  • Confusing factors with multiples. (Multiples of 45 are 45, 90, 135…)

Relation to Other Maths Topics

The idea of factors of 45 is helpful to master topics such as HCF and LCM, prime factorization, and number patterns. Understanding factors also helps with algebraic factorization and solving equations with integer solutions.


Classroom Tip and Memory Aid

A handy way to remember the factors of 45 is this pattern: start with 1, then check divisibility by 3, by 5, and their products (1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 45). Use pair matching: pairs that multiply to 45. Many students find drawing a simple factor tree boosts speed and clarity—just as Vedantu tutors recommend!


Wrapping Up: Factors of 45

We explored the factors of 45 with lists, pair tables, prime factorization, solved steps, and tricks. Practice finding factors for other numbers (like 30, 36, and 50) to reinforce concept mastery! For more examples and quick help, check factors of a number and factorization methods on Vedantu.


Explore Related Topics


FAQs on Factors of 45 Explained with Examples

1. What are the factors of 45?

The factors of 45 are the numbers that divide 45 without leaving a remainder. These are: 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, and 45.

2. What is the prime factorization of 45?

The prime factorization of 45 expresses it as a product of prime numbers. It is 3 x 3 x 5, or 32 x 5.

3. How many factors does 45 have?

The number 45 has a total of six factors: 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, and 45.

4. What are the factor pairs of 45?

Factor pairs of 45 are sets of two numbers that multiply to 45. These are: (1, 45), (3, 15), and (5, 9).

5. How do I find the factors of 45 using a factor tree?

A factor tree visually represents the prime factorization. Start with 45. Break it down into its smallest factors (e.g., 5 x 9). Continue breaking down composite factors until all branches end in prime numbers. For 45, the factor tree would show branches leading to 3, 3, and 5.

6. Is 9 a factor of 45? Why or why not?

Yes, 9 is a factor of 45 because 45 divided by 9 equals 5, a whole number.

7. What are the negative factors of 45?

The negative factors of 45 are -1, -3, -5, -9, -15, and -45. These numbers, when multiplied by their positive counterparts, result in 45.

8. How do I use factors of 45 to find the Highest Common Factor (HCF)?

To find the HCF of 45 and another number, list the factors of both numbers. The largest factor that appears in both lists is the HCF. For example, to find the HCF of 45 and 30, the factors of 30 are 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, and 30. The common factors are 1, 3, 5, and 15; the highest common factor is 15.

9. How can I use the factors of 45 to find the Least Common Multiple (LCM)?

To find the LCM of 45 and another number, you can use the prime factorization method. Find the prime factorization of both numbers. Then, identify the highest power of each prime factor present in either factorization. Multiply these highest powers together to find the LCM. For example, to find the LCM of 45 (3² x 5) and 20 (2² x 5), the highest power of 2 is 2², the highest power of 3 is 3², and the highest power of 5 is 5. Therefore, the LCM is 2² x 3² x 5 = 180.

10. What is the sum of all the factors of 45?

The sum of all the factors of 45 (1 + 3 + 5 + 9 + 15 + 45) is 78.

11. Why isn't 7 a factor of 45?

7 is not a factor of 45 because 45 divided by 7 results in a remainder, not a whole number.

12. How are factors and multiples related?

Factors and multiples are inversely related. If 'a' is a factor of 'b', then 'b' is a multiple of 'a'. For example, since 3 is a factor of 45, 45 is a multiple of 3.