Question 978614
What is the smallest prime factor of 1001?
<pre>
The smallest prime is 2.  So we try 2:

 <u>  500</u>
2)1001
  <u>1000</u>
     1

So 2 in not a factor of 1001 because it leaves a remainder of 1 when we divide 1001 by 2.

So we try the next prime, which is 3:

 <u>  333</u>
3)1001
  <u> 999</u>
     2

So 3 in not a factor of 1001 because it leaves a remainder of 2 when we divide 1001 by 3.

So we try the next prime, which is 5

 <u>  200</u>
5)1001
  <u>1000</u>
     1

So 5 in not a factor of 1001 because it leaves a remainder of 1 when we divide 1001 by 5.

So we try the next prime, which is 7

 <u>  143</u>
7)1001
  <u>1001</u>
     0

So 7 in a factor of 1001 because it leaves a remainder of 0 when we divide 1001 by 7.  

So the answer is 7.

Edwin</pre>