Prime Factorization

Prime factorization (or prime decomposition) consists of breaking down a certain number into prime numbers, called factors, whose product (multiplication) results in the original number.

The first method - Factor tree method

Let's take the number we want to factorize and draw 22 branches from it.
We will ask ourselves, which 22 numbers can we find whose multiplication results in this same number, except for the original number and 11.
Let's see if the numbers we found are prime or composite, we will break down the composite ones into two branches again.
We will continue breaking down all the composite numbers until we only have primes, which we will mark with a circle.

The second method - Split Window Method

Let's write the number we want to factorize on the left side of a vertical line that acts as a division window.
Let's look for the smallest prime number by which we can divide the original, we write it on the right side of the line and the result we write on the left, below the first one. We will continue in this manner until we reach the number 11 and finish the exercise.
All the prime numbers will appear on the right side of the dividing line.

Suggested Topics to Practice in Advance

  1. Prime Numbers and Composite Numbers

Practice Prime Factorization

Examples with solutions for Prime Factorization

Exercise #1

Write all the factors of the following number: 9 9

Video Solution

Answer

3,3 3,3

Exercise #2

Write all the factors of the following number: 5 5

Video Solution

Answer

No prime factors

Exercise #3

Write all the factors of the following number: 4 4

Video Solution

Answer

2,2 2,2

Exercise #4

Write all the factors of the following number: 7 7

Video Solution

Answer

No prime factors

Exercise #5

Write all the factors of the following number: 8 8

Video Solution

Answer

2,2,2 2,2,2

Exercise #6

Write all the factors of the following number: 6 6

Video Solution

Answer

2,3 2,3

Exercise #7

Write all the factors of the following number: 26 26

Video Solution

Answer

13,2 13,2

Exercise #8

Write all the factors of the following number: 18 18

Video Solution

Answer

2,3,3 2,3,3

Exercise #9

Write all the factors of the following number: 16 16

Video Solution

Answer

2,2,2,2 2,2,2,2

Exercise #10

Write all the factors of the following number: 13 13

Video Solution

Answer

No prime factors

Exercise #11

Write all the factors of the following number: 14 14

Video Solution

Answer

2,7 2,7

Exercise #12

Write all the factors of the following number: 12 12

Video Solution

Answer

3,2,2 3,2,2

Exercise #13

Write all the factors of the following number: 290 290

Video Solution

Answer

5,2,29 5,2,29

Exercise #14

Write all the factors of the following number: 720 720

Video Solution

Answer

5,3,3,2,2,2,2 5,3,3,2,2,2,2

Exercise #15

Write all the factors of the following number: 500 500

Video Solution

Answer

5,5,5,2,2 5,5,5,2,2

Topics learned in later sections

  1. Prime Factorization with Exponents
  2. Divisibility Rules for 2, 4, and 10
  3. Divisibility Rules for 3, 6, and 9