The number 342 is an integer that follows 341 and precedes 343. It is an even number, meaning it is divisible by 2 without a remainder. In terms of its prime factorization, 342 can be expressed as 2 × 3 × 57, where 57 can further be factored into 3 × 19. In the context of mathematics, 342 is also considered a composite number because it has divisors other than 1 and itself. It can be found in various applications, such as in mathematical calculations, statistics, and even in coding systems where numbers are used to represent data.