- 331 is a prime number.
- Prime factorization: 331 is prime.
- The exponent of prime number 331 is 1. Adding 1 to that exponent we get (1 + 1) = 2. Therefore 331 has exactly 2 factors.
- Factors of 331: 1, 331
- Factor pairs: 331 = 1 x 331
- 331 has no square factors that allow its square root to be simplified. √331 ≈ 18.193
How do we know that 331 is a prime number? If 331 were not a prime number, then it would be divisible by at least one prime number less than or equal to √331 ≈ 18.193. Since 331 cannot be divided evenly by 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, or 17, we know that 331 is a prime number.
Print the puzzles or type the factors on this excel file: 10 Factors 2014-12-22
Today’s puzzle looks like a hockey stick. Hockey sticks remind me not only of the obvious winter sport but also of the Twelve Days of Christmas and Pascal’s triangle.
Dimacs.rutgers.edu explains quite nicely how a hockey stick in Pascal’s triangle can give you the total number of gifts received after one day, two days, three days, and so on. Look at the green and red hockey stick with bold black numbers in this illustration of Pascal’s triangle:
If someone gave you one partridge every day for 12 days, two turtle doves every day for 11 days, three French hens every day for 10 days, etc, etc, and etc, then you would receive 364 gifts. (364 is so easy to remember because it is one less than the number of days in a year.)