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factor

factor in arithmetic, any number that divides a given number evenly, i.e., without any remainder. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. Similarly in algebra, any one of the algebraic expressions multiplied by another to form a product is a factor of that product, e.g., a + b and a - b are factors of a² - b ² , since ( a + b )( a - b )= a² - b² . In general, if r is a root of a polynomial equation f ( x )=0, then ( x - r ) is a factor of the polynomial f ( x ).

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factor

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

factor In mathematics, any number that divides exactly into a given number. For example, the factors of 72 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 36.

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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

factor agent XV; (math.) any of the quantities which multiplied together produce a given quantity XVII. — F. facteur or L. factor, f. fact-; see FACT, -OR1.

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T. F. HOAD. "factor." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 4 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "factor." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 4, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-factor.html

T. F. HOAD. "factor." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved December 04, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-factor.html

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