Prime Numbers

and Prime
Factorization
Lesson 3-2
 Factors
• Factors are the numbers you multiply
together to get a product.
• For example, the product 24 has several
factors.
• 24 = 1 x 24
• 24 = 2 x 12
• 24 = 3 x 8
• 24 = 4 x 6
• SO, the factors are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24
 Finding Factors
• Start with 1 times the number.
• Try 2, 3, 4, etc.
• When you repeat your factors, cross out
the repeat - you’re done at this point.
• If you get doubles (such as 4 x 4), then
you’re done. Repeats or doubles let
you know you’re done.
 What are the factors of 16?
1 x 16
2x8
3 x ?? 3 is not a factor, so cross it out

4x4 doubles = done

The factors of 16 are

1,2,4,8,16
 What are the factors of 18?
1 x 18 The factors are
2 x 9 1,2,3,6,9,18
3 x 6
4 x ??
5 x ??
6 x 3 Repeat! Cross it out!
We’re done!
 What are the factors of 7?
1x7 The only factors
2 x ?? of 7 are 1,7
3 x ??
4 x ??
5 x ??
6 x ??
7 x 1 This works, but it is a repeat. We
are done.
 Prime and Composite
Numbers

Prime numbers are Composite numbers

numbers that only have have more than two
two factors: one, and the factors.
number itself.
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
6, 15, 18, 30, 100
3, 5, 7, 11, 31
 A Product of Primes

• Every composite number can be

expressed as a product of prime
numbers.
• This is called prime factorization.
 Example
•15 is a composite
number.
•It can be expressed as
a product of primes:
3x5
To find the prime factorization:
1. Divide the number by the first prime
number possible.
2. Circle the prime number, and continue
with the other factor.
3. Divide the new factor by a prime
number.
4. Continue this process until the only
numbers you have left are prime
numbers.
Remember the Prime Number
List:

• 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29,

31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61,
67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97…
 Example: Prime Factorization of 100.

100 100 ÷ 2 = 50. Two is

the first prime number
that goes into 100.

2 is a prime Now we deal with the

number, so we
are done with it.
2 X 50 50. Divide it by 2 to get
the next factors.
25 is not divisible by
the first prime, 2. The
next prime, 3, does not

2 X 25 work either. We must

divide by 5 to get a
factor.

Both numbers are prime,

leaving us with all primes. 5x5
 What’s the Answer?

• Now, we just list our factors with

multiplication signs between them. Use
the circled prime numbers.
• 2x2x5x5
• We have listed 100 as a product of
prime numbers.
 Exponent Form
• We have just listed our prime factorization for 100 as
being 2 x 2 x 5 x 5. This is repeated multiplication.
Repeated multiplication can be expressed with
exponents.
• Our prime numbers are our bases. The number of times
the prime number is written is the exponent.
• 2 x 2 can be expressed in exponent form: 22
• 5 x 5 can be expressed as 52
• Put it together, and 2 x 2 x 5 x 5 is more simply put as
22 x 52
 Another Example
420

2 x 210

2 x 105
2
2 x3x5x7 3 x 35

5x7
Try this on your own:
54

Answer:
3
2x3
Homework Time!