572 is a composite number. A composite number is defined as a natural number greater than 1 that is not prime, meaning it has factors other than 1 and itself.
To determine if 572 is prime or composite, we look for divisors. The number 572 can be divided evenly by 2 (since it is even):
572 ÷ 2 = 286
This shows that 572 has at least one divisor other than 1 and itself, which confirms that it is a composite number. In addition, 572 can also be divided by other numbers, such as 4, 143, and 286, further demonstrating it is composite.