12 is a composite number. 12 = 1 x 12, 2 x 6, or 3 x 4. Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12. Prime factorization: 12 = 2 x 2 x 3, which can also be written 12 = 2² x 3.
When 12 is a clue in the FIND THE FACTORS 1 – 12 puzzles, any pair of its factors could be the correct choice. In the 1 – 10 puzzles, only 2 x 6 or 3 x 4 will be the correct choice.
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins is about cookies and sharing. It takes less than five minutes for an adult to read every delightful word aloud to a child. It is also a good book for beginning readers because it is filled with reliable repetition, and it is also sprinkled with a few interesting multi-syllabic words. Some words that do NOT appear in the text are mathematics, multiplication, division, or factoring. Still, the book very cleverly helps children recognize all the factors of 12. Chiix Moses wrote in a review, “Something I firmly believe is that learning is best when it doesn’t feel like learning, and that is precisely what this book accomplishes.” This book almost effortlessly teaches students to think win-win, so it is also an excellent choice for reinforcing the Seven Habits.
Here is part of an email that my blogging friend, Paula Krieg, sent after reading this post, “I’ve been looking at some Islamic Geometry, learning to draw some of those rosettes, and was struck by how the 12-fold pattern seemed particularly rich. I may be wrong about this, but it got me thinking about 12. 12 makes a dozen. 12 months to a year. 12 inches to a foot. 12 days of Christmas, 12 numbers on a clock, 12 apostles. My cupcake pans make 12 cupcakes, and I guess Grama’s cookie pan makes 12 cookies in The Doorbell Rang book.”
I should also mention that some people think we should switch from base 10 to base 12 because 12 is divisible by 50% of the numbers less than or equal to it while 10 is only divisible by 40% of the numbers less than or equal to it.
The puzzle below will require knowledge of the factors of 12 as well as thirteen other numbers. It is a level five puzzle, meant to be completed by adults or very bright children.
Click 12 Factors 2013-11-21 for more puzzles.
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