A prime number is a number that has exactly two distinct positive factors: $1$ and itself. If a number can be divided evenly by any other number (besides $1$ and itself), then it is not prime.
This guide will walk you through checking whether $41$ is a prime number using a simple and fast method.
What Is A Prime Number?
A prime number has exactly two factors:
$$ \text{Factors of a prime number} = {1, \text{the number itself}} $$
If we find any other number that divides it evenly, then it’s not prime.
Step-by-Step: Is 41 Prime?
To check whether $41$ is prime, we test all integers from $2$ up to $\sqrt{41} \approx 6.4$.
Try 2:
$$ 41 \div 2 = 20.5 \quad \text{(not a whole number)} $$
Try 3:
$$ 41 \div 3 \approx 13.67 \quad \text{(not a whole number)} $$
Try 4:
$$ 41 \div 4 = 10.25 \quad \text{(not a whole number)} $$
Try 5:
$$ 41 \div 5 = 8.2 \quad \text{(not a whole number)} $$
Try 6:
$$ 41 \div 6 \approx 6.83 \quad \text{(not a whole number)} $$
We’ve now checked all possible factors up to $\lfloor \sqrt{41} \rfloor = 6$. None divide evenly into $41$.
✅ Therefore, $41$ has only two factors: $1$ and $41$.
Final Answer
The number $41$ is a prime number.