Transcript Prime Factorization

PRIME
FACTORIZATION
USING FACTOR
TREES!
How to Do Prime Factorization
Using a Factor Tree
Step 1 – Start with a composite number.
Step 2 – Write down a multiplication
problem that equals this number or
any pair of factors of this number.
Step 3 – Continue until you have
reached all prime numbers. Circle the
prime numbers and write the product.
18
9
3
2
3
The prime
factorization of
18 is
2x3x3
or 2 x 3
2
Two different factor trees for the same number will still result
in the same prime factorization. The Fundamental Theorem
of Arithmetic supports this statement.
36
36
9
12
4
3
3
3
4
32 2
2
2 x 3
2
2 2
2
2
2 x 3
36
4
9
3
32
2
2 x 3
2
2
You can check your
prime factorization
by multiplying your
answer. If you get
the original number,
you are correct.
4 x 9 = 36
For this particular unit we are not using
EXPONETS …the raised number that
indicates how many times the factor will be
multiplied by itself.