Question 1168633
{{{88=2*2*2*11}}}
If you want just two factors to give product 88, then take your pick.


Look!  prime factors for 88 is shown.  You have a few choices for a PAIR of factors which will give 88.  This product 88 is NOT a square, so obviously any pair of whole number factors of 88 will be unequal; one factor is less than the other.


LOOK CAREFULLY!  You have a product of 88.
What are all the ways you can make a PAIR of whole number factors which give 88 as the product?  LIST THEM ALL!


1 & 88;
2 & 44;
4 & 11;
8 & 11.


That is all.  No others.  You could choose both factors as negative numbers, but that is probably not what is of interest.  So there is the list of pairs of factors for 88.  Count them.  There are four of them.


Now look again.  Do you see that in EACH pair, one number is less than the other?