1. PRIME FACTORIZATION

2. PRIME FACTORIZATION
Every composite number can be expressed as a product of prime numbers. This is called the prime factorization of a number.

3. PRIME FACTORIZATION
To find the prime factorization of a number, you can use a factor tree.

4. FACTOR TREES 36 ^
6 x 6 ^ ^
2 x 3
2 x 3
or 2² x 3²
36 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3

5. FACTOR TREES 36 ^
3 x 12 ^
3 x 4 ^
2 x 2
or 2² x 3²
36 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3

6. FACTOR TREES 9 ^
3 x 3
9 = 3 x 3
or 3²

7. FACTOR TREES 21 ^
3 x 7
21 = 3 x 7

8. ^ ^ ^ 10 x 10 2 x 5 2 x 5 FACTOR TREES 100 100 = 2 x 2 x 5 x 5
or 2² x 5²
100 = 2 x 2 x 5 x 5

9. PRIME FACTORIZATION
To find the prime factorization of a number, you can use a factor ladder.

10. FACTOR LADDERS  2 36  18 2  3 9 3 36 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3
Begin with the least prime number that is a factor.
Repeat until the quotient is prime. 2 36  18 2  3 9 3
or 2² x 3²
36 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3

11. FACTOR LADDERS  2 60  30 2  3 15 5 60 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5
Begin with the least prime number that is a factor.
Repeat until the quotient is prime. 2 60  30 2  3 15 5
or 2² x 3 x 5
60 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5

12. FACTOR LADDERS 
Begin with the least prime number that is a factor.
Repeat until the quotient is prime. 3 45  15 3 5
or 3² x 5
45 = 3 x 3 x 5

13. FACTOR LADDERS 
Begin with the least prime number that is a factor.
Repeat until the quotient is prime. 5
125  25 5 5
or 5³
125 = 5 x 5 x 5