Question

The smallest prime number is
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

Answer 1

Hint: A prime number is a number whose factors are 1 and the number itself. So first find how many of the given options are prime numbers by finding their factors. If their factors have 1 and the number itself, then those numbers are primes. From the declared primes, find the smallest one and that will be our answer.

Complete step-by-step answer:
We are given to find the smallest prime number from the given options.
First one is 1. 1 is an odd number and 1 has only one factor that is 1 itself. 1 is not a prime number as well as not a composite number.
Second one is 2. 2 is an even number and 2 have two factors : 1 and 2. As 2 have only two factors, it is a prime number.
Third one is 3. 3 is an odd number and 3 also have two factors : 1 and 3. As 3 also have only two factors, it is also a prime number.
Fourth one is 4. 4 is an even number and 4 have three factors : 1, 2 and 4. As 4 has three factors it is not a prime number. 4 is a composite number.
So finally we got two prime numbers, they are 2 and 3.
2 is smaller than 3.
Therefore, $2$ is the smallest prime number.
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: A prime number will have only two factors, 1 and number itself, whereas a composite number has more than two factors. All even numbers except 2 are composite. All prime numbers except 2 are odd. 1 is neither a prime number nor a composite number.