What describes a composite number?

A composite number is defined as a number that has more than two distinct positive factors. This means that in addition to 1 and the number itself, a composite number can be evenly divided by at least one other number. For example, 6 is a composite number because its factors are 1, 2, 3, and 6.

On the other hand, a number is classified as a prime number if it has only two distinct factors: 1 and itself, which is why the description of a number with only two factors pertains to prime numbers and not composite ones.

Considering the other choices, a number that can only be divided by 1 specifically describes the number 1, which is neither prime nor composite. A single digit number includes both composite and prime numbers, so it does not accurately define what a composite number is. Therefore, the defining characteristic of composite numbers aligns perfectly with having more than two factors, making it the correct response.