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Finding prime factors

factors are of a number that are, themselves, prime numbers.

Sometimes you might be asked to write a number as the of its prime factors.

There are many methods to find the prime factors of a number, but one of the most common is to use a prime factor tree:

  • Start the factor tree using any pair of factors (two numbers that multiply together to make your number).
  • If one of these factors is prime, that branch ends.
  • If a factor isn't prime, divide it into a factor pair.
  • The branches continue to expand until all the factors are prime numbers.
  • The final answer is the list of all the prime numbers displayed at the end of these branches.

Example:

Write 24 as the product of its prime factors.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 4, Factor tree diagram, Write 24 as the product of its prime factors You could choose any factor pair to start.