Faktor

Faktor is a term used in several languages, including Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Dutch, and English, to denote an element that contributes to a result. In mathematics and related disciplines, a factor is a number or algebraic expression that multiplies with others to form a product. A divisor is a factor of another number. Factorization is the process of decomposing an object into a product of factors. For example, 12 = 3 × 4, and x^2 − 5x + 6 factors as (x − 2)(x − 3). Prime factors are the prime numbers whose product yields the original number.

In statistics and data analysis, a factor is a latent or observed variable that explains patterns in data. Factor analysis seeks to identify underlying factors from observed correlations, often used to simplify questionnaires or psychometric data. In experimental design, factors are variables whose levels are deliberately varied to study effects, and they may be categorical (factorial) or numeric (continuous).

In finance, factor models describe asset returns as influenced by shared risks, called factors. Common examples include market movement and style factors; such models support asset pricing, risk assessment, and portfolio construction, as seen in models like the Fama–French three-factor model.

Beyond these fields, “faktor” appears in computing and probability as a term for a function or constraint that connects variables, such as a factor in a factor graph representing a probability distribution. Overall, the core sense is that a faktor is a contributing element that helps determine a result.