factor

/ˈfæktər/
noun
  1. One of the things that influences or causes a situation or result.
    • The weather is a key factor in the success of the outdoor festival.
    • Lack of sleep was a major factor in his poor performance at school.
    • Cost is an important factor when choosing a new car.
  2. A number that divides into another number exactly, without leaving a remainder.
    • Seven is a prime factor of 21 because it divides evenly.
    • The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.
    • In math class, we learned how to find the greatest common factor of two numbers.
  3. A level or amount on a scale, especially in a measurement or calculation.
    • We multiplied the original price by a factor of 1.5 to get the new price.
    • The sunscreen has a protection factor of 50.
    • The wind chill factor made the temperature feel much colder than it actually was.
Antonyms
verb
  1. To include something as an important element when making a decision or calculation.
    • When planning the trip, you should factor in possible delays.
    • We need to factor the cost of shipping into the total price.
    • The committee factored public opinion into their final decision.
  2. To break a number or expression into its factors (in mathematics).
    • Can you factor this polynomial into two binomials?
    • To solve the problem, first factor the number 30 into 5 and 6.
    • The students learned how to factor quadratic equations.
Antonyms
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