How do you calculate the factorial of 5?

To calculate the factorial of 5, represented as 5!, you multiply all positive integers from 1 to 5 together. This can be expressed mathematically as:

5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1

Now let's perform the calculation step by step:

• First, multiply 5 by 4, which gives us 20.

• Next, multiply that result (20) by 3, resulting in 60.

• Then, take 60 and multiply it by 2 to get 120.

• Lastly, multiply 120 by 1, which still equals 120.

Hence, the final value for 5! is 120. This is a fundamental concept in factorial calculations, and mastering it is crucial, especially in combinatorics and probability contexts.