Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of prime numbers?

The statement identifying that prime numbers have more than two factors is not a characteristic of prime numbers. A prime number is defined by its specific properties: it must be greater than 1 and can only be divisible by 1 and itself, which inherently gives it exactly two distinct factors.

The first two characteristics – being greater than 1 and being only divisible by 1 and themselves – are foundational to the definition of a prime number. This means that prime numbers cannot possess more than two factors. The only even prime number is 2; all other even numbers can be divided by 2, thus having at least three factors: 1, 2, and the number itself.

In summary, the correct answer highlights that having more than two factors is fundamentally incompatible with the definition of prime numbers, as prime numbers are uniquely identified by their two-factor nature.