Transcript Document
Prime Factorization:
Objective: To identify prime and composite numbers.
To write the prime factorization of numbers
Vocabulary
Prime Number: A number greater than 1 that has only two
factors (1 and the number itself)
Examples:
5: because 5 and 1 are its only factors
17: because 17 and 1 are its only factors
Composite Number: A whole number greater than one that
has more than two factors.
Examples:
6: because it has four factors 1, 2, 3, 6
9: because it has three factors 1, 3, 9
0 and 1 are neither prime or composite
Prime Factorization: A number written as a product of factors
that are all prime numbers.
Factor Tree:
A useful tool used to find prime
factorization.
Example: Make a factor tree for the number 40
40
40
5
8
2
40
20
5
5
4
2
2 2
5 2
2 5
5 2
2 2
All three factor trees have three 2’s and a 5
4
The prime factorization of 40 is
2 5
3
8
4
2
2 2
50
2
25
2•52
5
2 5
120
12
4
2
2
10
3
5
2
3
5
2
23•3•5