document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=201146>Question 201146</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0534928463/algebrahomeworkh></A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I do not understand how to factor a composite number into a product of prime numbers. For example: 120 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #151386 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=RAY100><B>RAY100(1637)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=RAY100><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=151386\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> usually  we  use  a  \"factor  tree\" to  better  visualize  (  please  excuse ,,,,)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,120<BR>\n" );
document.write( ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,5,,,,24...........these  are  factors  of  120<BR>\n" );
document.write( ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,,,12........these  are  factors  of  24<BR>\n" );
document.write( ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,,,6......these  are  factors  of  12<BR>\n" );
document.write( ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,,3....these  are  factors  of  6<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore  prime  factors  of  120  are  2,2,2,3,5,,(which  multiply  to  120)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "better  stated  as  2^3, 3, 5<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Note  we  do  not  use  the  1,  in  this  factorization<BR>\n" );
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