The prime factorization of a number is the expression of that number as a product of its prime factors
Prime factorization is finding the factors of a number that are all prime Here's how you do it: Find 2 factors of your number Then look at your 2 factors and determine if one or both of them is not prime If it is not a prime factor it Repeat this process until all your factors are prime Here's an example: Find the prime factors of the number 84: 84 / \ 42 x 2 (84 is 42 times 2) / \ 21 x 2 (42 is 21 times 2) / \ 7 x 3 (21 is 7 times 3) (7 and 3 are both prime, so we stop!) So the prime factors of 84 are 7 x 3 x 2 x 2 Now, here's a problem for you: Find the prime factors of 60
(see also Prime factored form above) The expression of a composite number as a product of its prime factors
A composite number expressed as a product of prime factors For example: 36 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3
Calculation of all prime factors in a number Example: The prime factors of 84 are 7 x 3 x 2 x 2