The number that is neither prime nor composite is 1.
To understand why, let’s define what prime and composite numbers are. A prime number is a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. This means that a prime number can only be divided evenly by 1 and the number itself. On the other hand, a composite number is a natural number greater than 1 that can be divided evenly by numbers other than 1 and itself, meaning it has additional divisors.
The number 1 does not fit into either of these categories. It is not greater than 1, which disqualifies it from being prime. Additionally, it does not have the necessary factors to be considered composite, as it can only be divided by 1. Therefore, 1 stands alone in this unique position in the number system.