Which of the following best describes a composite number?

• A. Can only be divided evenly by 1 and itself
• B. Can be divided evenly by multiple whole numbers
• C. Is always a negative integer
• D. Is never an even number

Answer: (B)

A composite number is defined as a natural number greater than one that has more than two distinct positive divisors. This means that it can be divided evenly by at least one other whole number aside from 1 and itself, which confirms that the number has multiple factors. For example, the number 6 is composite because it can be divided evenly by 1, 2, 3, and 6.

On the other hand, a prime number, like 7, can only be divided evenly by 1 and itself, which is not the case for composite numbers. It’s also important to note that composite numbers can include both even and odd numbers, so the statement regarding evenness is incorrect, and composite numbers are exclusively positive integers, affecting the options around negativity as well. The proper understanding of composite numbers centers on their divisibility, which is why the choice highlighting their ability to be divided evenly by multiple whole numbers is the most accurate description.