I want to know what is 1 called? What's it's special name? Please help! I'll get extra credit :)
2006-11-28 14:24:19 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
It's called a unit element, because anything times 1
equals itself.
2006-11-28 14:31:20 · answer #1 · answered by steiner1745 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you reckon is the most special thing about 1? I'd say it's the fact that if you multiply it by any number, you get that same number. So it's called "the identity element for multiplication".
The identity element for addition is 0, because if you add it to any number it leaves the number unchanged.
But 1 hasn't any special name in the category of prime or composite.
PS Yes, Steiner17 is right too, of course.
2006-11-28 14:32:10 · answer #2 · answered by Hy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most mathematicians consider "1" prime because it meets the standard definition "divisible only by itself and unity".
You can also say that 1 "is the identity element under multiplication". This is also correct, but more stuffy.
Boojum
2006-11-28 14:36:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the Kaplan GMAT course I am currently taking, the number "1" is the smallest prime number
2006-11-28 14:41:53 · answer #4 · answered by MMM 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is neither.
2006-11-28 14:33:36 · answer #5 · answered by 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋