12 is a composite number. This is because it has more than two distinct positive divisors. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. Since it can be divided evenly by numbers other than just 1 and itself, we classify it as composite. In contrast, a prime number is only divisible by 1 and itself. Examples of prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11. So, in summary, 12 is composite because it has multiple factors.
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