SOLUTION: I do not understand how to factor a composite number into a product of prime numbers. For example: 120

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Question 201146This question is from textbook
: I do not understand how to factor a composite number into a product of prime numbers. For example: 120 This question is from textbook

Answer by RAY100(1637) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
usually we use a "factor tree" to better visualize ( please excuse ,,,,)
.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,120
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,5,,,,24...........these are factors of 120
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,,,12........these are factors of 24
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,,,6......these are factors of 12
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,,3....these are factors of 6
.
Therefore prime factors of 120 are 2,2,2,3,5,,(which multiply to 120)
.
better stated as 2^3, 3, 5
.
Note we do not use the 1, in this factorization
.