The answer
The factors of 54 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18, 27 and 54.
Factor pairs of 54
| Pair | Makes |
|---|---|
| 1 × 54 | 54 |
| 2 × 27 | 54 |
| 3 × 18 | 54 |
| 6 × 9 | 54 |
Prime factors of 54
- Prime factorisation
- 54 = 2 × 3 × 3 × 3 (2 × 3³)
- Reading index form
- A small raised number tells you how many times to use that factor. For example, 2³ means 2 × 2 × 2.
- Is 54 prime?
- No. It has 8 factors, not just 1 and 54.
- Is 54 a square number?
- No. 7 × 7 = 49 and 8 × 8 = 64, so 54 falls between two square numbers.
How to find the factors of 54
54 is even, so 2 is sure to be a factor. Its digits add up to 9, a multiple of 9, so 3 and 9 are factors. Work up from 1 to 7, and write down both numbers in every pair you find.
- 54 ÷ 1 = 54, so 1 × 54 is a pair.
- 54 ÷ 2 = 27, so 2 × 27 is a pair.
- 54 ÷ 3 = 18, so 3 × 18 is a pair.
- 4 does not go into 54 exactly.
- 5 does not go into 54 exactly.
- 54 ÷ 6 = 9, so 6 × 9 is a pair.
- 7 does not go into 54 exactly.
Stop at 8: 8 × 8 = 64, which is more than 54. The next pair you would find is 9 × 6, which is 6 × 9 turned round, so you already have every pair.
54 in the times tables
3 × 18 = 54 and 6 × 9 = 54. Practise the 6 times table, 9 times table and 18 times table.
More numbers
Questions parents ask
What is the largest factor of 54, apart from 54 itself?
27. Divide 54 by its smallest factor above 1, which is 2: 54 ÷ 2 = 27.
What do the factors of 54 add up to?
120. Leaving out 54 itself, they add up to 66, which is more than 54, so 54 is called an abundant number.
Which number after 54 has the same number of factors?
56. Like 54, it has exactly 8 factors.
Continue your number practice
Explore the diagnostic for another set of practice questions.
