What is the value of 5! (5 factorial)?

To find the value of 5! (5 factorial), you need to understand what the factorial of a number means. The factorial of a number n, denoted as n!, is the product of all positive integers from 1 up to n.

In this case, to calculate 5!, you multiply the integers 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 together:

5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1

Calculating this step by step:

• First, multiply 5 by 4, which gives you 20.
• Then, multiply that result (20) by 3, leading to 60.
• Next, multiply 60 by 2 to get 120.
• Finally, multiplying 120 by 1 still results in 120.

After carrying out these multiplications, you find that 5! = 120. Therefore, the correct answer is 120, as it represents the total product of all integers from 1 to 5. Understanding how to compute factorials is essential, as they often arise in combinations, permutations, and other areas of mathematics.