RE: Factors and Terms

[Joel Fritz <JFritz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A perfect number is a number that is the sum of its factors.  Six is the
smallest one (1 + 2 + 3 = 6); there aren't very many of them among numbers
less than 1,000.  Number theory is either an amusement for people with too
much time on their hands, or one of the most practical areas of mathematics.
I think you could find folks who could present strong arguments for both
sides.  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Jackson [mailto:richardjackson@richardjackson.net]
> Sent: Friday, October 20, 2000 8:24 PM
> To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Factors and Terms
> 
> 
> I must be confused.
> 
> Please humor me and identify the numbers (other than 1 and 7) 
> that, when
> multiplied together, equal 7.  Since 7 is itself prime, by 
> definition 7 has
> only two factors - 1 and itself.
> 
> The word used was factor, not term.  Factors are things 
> multiplied.  Terms
> are things added.  As far as I know, (assuming base 10 and Euclidian
> geometry and a flat earth and other ordinary stuff) the sum of all the
> factors of 7 is 8 and the product of all of the factors of 7 is 7.
> 
> What is fuzzy here?  Perhaps I have just lost my sense of humor ... :)
> 
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