How many positive factors does a prime number have?

A prime number is defined as a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. The key characteristic of prime numbers is their inability to be divided evenly by any other positive integers except for these two factors.

Therefore, any prime number will always have exactly two positive factors: the number itself and the number one. For example, the prime number 5 has the factors 1 and 5. This understanding of prime numbers and their factors clarifies why the only correct answer is that they have two positive factors.