is 37 a prime, composite,or neither number?

Answer 1

This answer will explain how to calculate is a number is a prime number. Short and sweet...

Start by trying to divide the number by 2, then 3, then 5, etc(prime numbers) until the number you are dividing when squared is greater than the number you are dividing

So with 37 you start by dividing by 2(which doesn't go), then 3(which doesn't go), then 5 etc until 7 as 7^2 =49 which is greater than 37.

Unlike in one post which said you divide up to 17, which is a waste of time.

In this case 37 is a prime number

Answer 2

It is a prime number.

Recall that a prime number is a number that is divisible only by 1 and itself. One way to test a number to see if it is prime is to see if there are any other factors. In this case, it's a bit grueling, but you can check with all numbers less thatn 37.

Why less than 37? A factor is a number that divides evenly into the original number. A number greater than 37 cannot divide evenly into 37. So, we need to check all of the numbers less than 37.

Check for 2. Nope, not divisible, so we know 2 is not a factor.
Check for 3. Nope, not divisible, so we know 3 is not a factor.
Check for 5. Nope, not divisible, so we know 5 is not a factor.

You'll note I skipped 4. This is because 4 is 2*2. Any number that has 4 as a factor must have 2 as a factor. Since 2 is not a factor, then we know that 4 is not a factor. So we don't even bother checking with 4.

We can skip 6, as well, since it is 2*3. Any number with 6 as a factor must have 2 and 3 as factors. We already know that 2 and 3 are not factors, so 6 is not a factor.

In fact, we can rule out all composite numbers for the same reason that we rule out 4 and 6. So, instead of checking for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11..., we only need to focus on the prime numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11....

So, you only need to check to see if the following numbers divide evenly into 37: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31. None of these numbers divide evenly into 37.

Technically, you only need to check 2, 3, and 5, since no factor will be greater than the square root of the number. If you calculate the square root of 37, you get 6.1. So, all other primes are unnecessary to test. If you do not have easy access to a calculator, then another good rule of thumb is to go up to half of the number, since there cannot be a factor greater than half the number (aside from the number itself). So, if you are unable to figure out the square root of the number, you could go up to half and test 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 17.

Answer 3

Prime

Answer 4

37 is a prime

Answer 5

37 is a prime number do to the fact that no 2 whole numbers except 1 and 37 can divide it into another whole number.

Answer 6

It's a prime number.

Answer 7

Prime, there are no 2 integers when multiplied that make 37.

Answer 8

It's a prime.

Answer 9

prime

Answer 10

Prime... what a question...