The number 60 is classified as a composite number because it has more than two distinct positive divisors. Specifically, its divisors include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 60. This means that 60 can be divided evenly by these numbers, unlike prime numbers, which have only two divisors: 1 and themselves. In addition to being composite, 60 is also a highly composite number, meaning it has more divisors than any smaller positive integer. It is significant in various fields, such as mathematics and timekeeping, where there are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour, reflecting its importance in the sexagesimal system.