A factor is a portion of a quantity that, when multiplied by other factors, gives the entire quantity. Thus, for instance, \(3\) is a factor of \(6\), as is \(2\), as \(3 \times 2 = 6\). The determination of factors is called factorisation, or factoring.[1]
A proper factor of a whole number is any factor of that number except the number itself. Any number that equals the sum of its proper factors is known as a perfect numberA perfect number is a positive integer the sum of whose proper divisors is equal to the number itself.. For instance, \(1 + 2 + 3 = 6\), thus \(6\) is a perfect number.[2]
