24 = {1,2,3,4,6,8,12,24]
Factors are the individual numbers in the brackets.
For example 8 is a factor of 2
Factor pairs are the pairs of number that make comprise the number
A factor pair of 24 is 4 x 6. Another factor pair is 2 x 12 and so on.
Since 4 balls of wool makes 8 knitted caps we'll find out how much caps each ball makes.
8/4 = 2
Each ball makes 2 caps.
6/2 = 3
Malcolm will need 3 balls of wool to make 6 knitted caps.