a silly one- definition of a factor

BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

This topic has expert replies

Post new topic Post Reply

Previous Topic Next Topic

talcito: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 1; Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2010 1:11 am

a silly one- definition of a factor

by talcito » Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:21 am

Hey-
Kaplan defines Factors as "the positive integers that divide into that number without a reminder" - WHAT ABOUT (-1)?
Isn't it the only negative factor of a negative number?
10x

Quote

Source: Beat The GMAT — Quantitative Reasoning | Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:21 am

KapTeacherEli: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 578; Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:00 pm; Thanked: 136 times; Followed by:62 members

by KapTeacherEli » Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:55 am

Hi talcito,

Although negative numbers are divisible by -1, -1 isn't a factor--the word 'factor', by definition, refers to positive numbers that divide evenly into other positive numbers.

Hope this helps!

Eli Meyer
Kaplan GMAT Teacher
Cambridge, MA
www.kaptest.com/gmat