The number 16 is classified as a composite number because it has more than two distinct positive divisors. Specifically, the divisors of 16 are 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 itself. This means that 16 can be divided evenly by these numbers, unlike prime numbers, which have only two divisors: 1 and the number itself. In addition to being a composite number, 16 is also a perfect square, as it can be expressed as 4 multiplied by itself (4 × 4 = 16). This property makes it significant in various mathematical contexts, including geometry and number theory.