Which type of number is defined as being greater than 1 and having only two factors?

The correct answer is prime number. A prime number is defined as a natural number that is greater than 1 and has exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and the number itself. This unique characteristic distinguishes prime numbers from other types of numbers. For example, the number 5 is a prime number because it can only be divided evenly by 1 and 5.

In contrast, composite numbers have more than two factors; they are greater than 1 and can be divided by numbers other than 1 and themselves. Natural numbers include all positive whole numbers, starting from 1, but they do not specifically focus on the characteristic of having exactly two factors. Integers encompass all whole numbers, both positive and negative, as well as zero, and therefore do not meet the criteria of being greater than 1 with only two factors. Understanding these definitions clarifies why the prime number is the correct choice in this context.