Conquer the College Math Placement Challenge 2026 – Step Up and Shine!

To determine the value of 5! (factorial of 5), you calculate the product of all positive integers from 1 to 5. The factorial function is defined as follows:

5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1.

Calculating this step by step:

- Start with 5.

- Next, multiply by 4: 5 × 4 = 20.

- Then multiply the result by 3: 20 × 3 = 60.

- Next, multiply by 2: 60 × 2 = 120.

- Finally, multiply by 1: 120 × 1 = 120.

Thus, the value of 5! is 120. This calculation shows how factorials grow quickly even with relatively small numbers, as each term multiplies the current product by the next integer down. The correct answer reflects this factorial growth accurately, which is why it is 120.