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What is prime factorization?

EVERYDAY MATH 1.9

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Math Message

  • 8 + 8 and 4 x 4 are 2 names for the number 16. write at least 5 other names for 16.

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Vocabulary

  • Prime Factorization: is finding which prime numbers you need to multiply together to get the original number.

  • Factor string: a multiplication expression that has at least 2 factors that are greater than 1
    • Example: 24 is 2 x 3 x 4 and 3 x 4 x 2

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Model

  • Find the factor string for 7

  • Find the factor string for 24

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Model answers

  • Find the factor string for 7
    • There is no factor string
  • Find the factor string for 24
    • 2 x 2 x 2 x 3

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Factor Tree

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Factor Tree

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Prime Factorization

  • Example 1
  • What are the prime factors of 12?
  • It is best to start working from the smallest prime number, which is 2, so let's check:
  • 12 ÷ 2 = 6
  • But 6 is not a prime number, so we need to factor it further:
  • 6 ÷ 2 = 3
  • And 3 is a prime number, so:
  • 12 = 2 × 2 × 3
  • As you can see, every factor is a prime number, so the answer must be right - the prime factorization of 12 is 2 × 2 × 3, which can also be written 22 × 3

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Prime Factorization

  • What is the prime factorization of 147?
  • Can we divide 147 evenly by 2? No, so we should try the next prime number, 3:
  • 147 ÷ 3 = 49
  • Then we try factoring 49, and find that 7 is the smallest prime number that works:
  • 49 ÷ 7 = 7
  • And that is as far as we need to go, because all the factors are prime numbers.
  • 147 = 3 × 7 × 7 = 3 × 72

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Have a Go

  • What is the prime factorization of 81?

  • What is the prime factorization of 126?

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Exit slip

  • Find the prime factorization for 42.