How to Find the Prime Factorization of a Number
The prime factorization of a number involves breaking that number down to its smallest parts. This lesson will show you two different ways to discover the prime factorization of any number.
Factors of a Number
When you are trying to come to a conclusion about a problem, you often say that there are many ‘factors’ to consider. This means that there are many parts that make up the whole problem of what you are trying to decide. If the decision is where to go for dinner, the factors involved in that decision might be price, how far away the restaurant is, and how well you will enjoy the food.
Numbers also have factors, the parts that make up the whole number. The factors of a number are the numbers that, when multiplied together, make up the original number.
For example, factors of 8 could be 2 and 4 because 2 * 4 is 8.
And factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24, because 1 * 24 is 24, 2 * 12 is 24, 3 * 8 is 24 and so is 4 * 6. So all of these numbers are said to be factors of 24.
Prime Numbers
A prime number is any number that is only divisible by itself and 1. Some examples of prime numbers include 2, 5 and 17. Numbers such as 15 or 21 are not prime, because they are divisible by more than just themselves and 1.
Prime Factorization
To factor a number is to break that number down into smaller parts. To find the prime factorization of a number, you need to break that number down to its prime factors.
How to Determine the Prime Factorization of a Number
There are two main ways for determining the prime factors of a number. I will demonstrate both methods, and let you decide which you like best.
Both methods start out with a factor tree. A factor tree is a diagram that is used to break down a number into its factors until all the numbers left are prime.
The first way you can use a factor tree to find the factorization of a number is to divide out prime numbers only. Let’s factor 24 using this method.
Since 24 is an even number, the first prime number that can be factored out is a 2. This leaves us with 2 * 12. Again, 12 is an even number, so we can factor out another 2, leaving us with 2 * 2 * 6. Since 6 is even, we can factor out a third two, leaving 2 * 2 * 2 * 3.
null
All of these numbers are prime, so the factorization is complete.
The other method for using a factor tree to find the prime factorization of a number is just to pull out the first factors that you see, whether they are prime or not. Looking back at our example from above, let’s factor 24 again using this method.
Looking for a Similar Assignment? Order now and Get 10% Discount! Use Coupon Code “Newclient”
The post How to Find the Prime Factorization of a Number appeared first on Superb Professors.
For any questions, feedback, or comments, we have an ethical customer support team that is always waiting on the line for your inquiries.