Answer:
Prime Factorization
The prime factorization of a number is the product of prime numbers that equals the number.
Doing the Manipulative Mathematics activity “Prime Numbers” will help you develop a better sense of prime numbers.
You may want to refer to the following list of prime numbers less than
2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23,29,31,37,41,43,47
Prime Factorization Using the Factor Tree Method
One way to find the prime factorization of a number is to make a factor tree. We start by writing the number, and then writing it as the product of two factors. We write the factors below the number and connect them to the number with a small line segment—a “branch” of the factor tree.
If a factor is prime, we circle it (like a bud on a tree), and do not factor that “branch” any further. If a factor is not prime, we repeat this process, writing it as the product of two factors and adding new branches to the tree.
We continue until all the branches end with a prime. When the factor tree is complete, the circled primes give us the prime factorization.
For example, let’s find the prime factorization of
36 . We can start with any factor pair such as 3 and 12 . We write 3 and 12 below 36 with branches connecting them.
