Is 42 Prime or Composite? Number Classification Challenge

To solve this problem, we'll determine if 42 is a prime or composite number by checking its divisibility by numbers other than 1 and itself.

A number is prime if it has exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and itself. It is composite if it has more than two distinct divisors.

Let's find the divisors of 42:

• $42 \div 1 = 42$
• $42 \div 2 = 21$ (evenly divisible, so 2 is a divisor)
• $42 \div 3 = 14$ (evenly divisible, so 3 is also a divisor)
• $42 \div 6 = 7$ (evenly divisible, so 6 is another divisor)
• $42 \div 7 = 6$ (evenly divisible, so 7 is a divisor)
• $42 \div 14 = 3$ (evenly divisible, so 14 is a divisor)
• $42 \div 21 = 2$ (evenly divisible, so 21 is a divisor)
• $42 \div 42 = 1$

From the above list, we can see that 42 has divisors other than 1 and itself, namely 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, and 21. This means that 42 is not a prime number.

Therefore, the number 42 is a composite number.