how do you find prime factorization?
how to calculate food you buy
how does that help me find prime factorization?
You reduce your number down to be only factors that are prime.
Example:
36 factors into 3 x 12. 3 is prime, but 12 is not, so you need to factor 12. 12 can break down into 3 x 4. 3 is prime, 4 isn't. 4 breaks down into 2 x 2. 2 is prime.
The prime factorization for 36 would be 2x2x3x3 or 2^2 x 3^2.
It would be easier to show as a factor tree, but I'm not sure I could type one out :)
Finding the prime factorization of a number involves breaking down the number into its prime factors, which are the prime numbers that can divide the number evenly without leaving a remainder. Here's how you can find the prime factorization of a number:
1. Start with the number you want to factorize. Let's say we want to find the prime factorization of the number 72.
2. Begin by dividing the number by the smallest prime number, which is 2. Check if the number is divisible by 2. If it is, divide the number by 2 and continue dividing until it is no longer divisible. In the case of 72, it can be divided by 2 three times: 72 ÷ 2 = 36, 36 ÷ 2 = 18, and 18 ÷ 2 = 9.
3. Move on to the next prime number, which is 3. Check if the number is divisible by 3. If it is, divide the number by 3 and keep dividing until it is no longer divisible. In the case of 9, it can be divided by 3 two times: 9 ÷ 3 = 3.
4. Now, we have reached a prime number, which is 3. Since 3 cannot be divided any further, we can stop here.
5. Write down all the prime factors that we obtained along the way. In this example, the prime factorization of 72 is 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3, or in exponent form, 2^3 x 3^2.
By following these steps, you can find the prime factorization of any number.