February 8, 2004 FACTOR 6

### NAME

factor - factor a number

### SYNOPSIS

factor [number ...]

### DESCRIPTION

The factor utility will factor integers between -2147483648 and 2147483647 inclusive. When a number is factored, it is printed, followed by a ``:'', and the list of factors on a single line. Factors are listed in ascending order, and are preceded by a space. If a factor divides a value more than once, it will be printed more than once.

When factor is invoked with one or more arguments, each argument will be factored.

When factor is invoked with no arguments, factor reads numbers, one per line, from standard input, until end of file or error. Leading white-space and empty lines are ignored. Numbers may be preceded by a single - or +. Numbers are terminated by a non-digit character (such as a newline). After a number is read, it is factored. Input lines must not be longer than 255 characters.

### DIAGNOSTICS

Out of range or invalid input results in an appropriate error message being written to standard error.

### BUGS

factor cannot handle the ``10 most wanted'' factor list.