The statement "What is the smallest odd composite number is 4?" is incorrect. The smallest odd composite number is not 4. 4 is an even composite number. The question should be "What is the smallest odd composite number?". The answer is 9.
Explanation
Here's why 9 is the smallest odd composite number:
- Odd Numbers: Odd numbers are integers not divisible by 2 (e.g., 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ...).
- Composite Numbers: Composite numbers are positive integers that have at least one divisor other than 1 and themselves (i.e., they can be factored into smaller positive integers).
- Smallest Odd Composite Number: We need to find the smallest number that meets both criteria.
Let's examine the odd numbers in ascending order:
- 1: 1 is neither prime nor composite.
- 3: 3 is a prime number (only divisible by 1 and itself).
- 5: 5 is a prime number (only divisible by 1 and itself).
- 7: 7 is a prime number (only divisible by 1 and itself).
- 9: 9 is divisible by 1, 3, and 9. Therefore, it's a composite number.
Therefore, 9 is the smallest odd composite number because it is odd and has factors other than 1 and itself (specifically, 3).
