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1c-prime-factorization

The document explains prime numbers, defining them as numbers that cannot be divided evenly by any other numbers except for 1 and themselves. It introduces the concept of prime factorization, illustrating how non-prime numbers can be expressed as products of prime numbers. Additionally, it provides examples and tips for identifying prime factors and offers practice problems for the reader.

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4 views

1c-prime-factorization

The document explains prime numbers, defining them as numbers that cannot be divided evenly by any other numbers except for 1 and themselves. It introduces the concept of prime factorization, illustrating how non-prime numbers can be expressed as products of prime numbers. Additionally, it provides examples and tips for identifying prime factors and offers practice problems for the reader.

Uploaded by

gradiusindustries
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

1c: Prime Factorization

First, what is a prime number?


A prime number is one that cannot be divided evenly (no remainder) by anything
other than 1 and itself.
That barely makes sense I know, let’s look at examples.
 2: Yes
 3: Yes
 4: No. Why not? Because 4÷ 2 = 2
 5: Yes
 6: No (6÷ 2 =3, and 6÷3=2)
 7: Yes
 8: No
 9: No (9÷ 3=3)
 10: No (You might be figuring out by now, all even numbers,
except 2, are not prime
 11: Yes
 13: Yes
 15: No (15÷5=3)
 (1 is not a prime number, the reasoning is rather complicated. Google it if
you’re interested)

We could keep going but hopefully you’re getting the idea.


That was probably review. What might not be review, is the idea of prime
factorization. All non-prime numbers are made up of prime numbers multiplied
together.
Let’s look at a few:
4 6 9
2 2 3 2 3 3
If we take the bottom numbers, they multiply together to make the top number.
This concept is very helpful in the future even if it seems boring now.
Those numbers above only had two ‘prime factors’. Many numbers will have
more than two, and some will have tons. Here are some more examples:
8 12 18
4 2 4 3 3 6
2 2 2 2 2 3

16 16
8 2 4 4
2 4 2 2 2 2
2 2

You’ll notice I did 16 twice up above. That was to show there’s more than one
way, but when all is said and done, we ended up with the same prime factors
(four 2s)
When we start getting to larger ones like that, it’s often a good idea to start
circling your prime factors. Then you know that branch is done, and you can
quickly and easily find your actual prime factors.

144
9 16
3 3 8 2
4 2
2 2
Now I can look and know that the prime factors of 144 are 2,2,2,2,3,3

It really helps to know your timetables for this, but if you don’t there are a few
tricks.
Multiples of 2: Even (end in 2, 4, 6, 8, 0)
Multiples of 5: End in 0 or 5
Multiples of 10: End in 0
Multiples of 3: Add all the digits of the number up. If that new number
is divisible by 3, then the whole number is.
Example: 252 2+5+2 = 9
9 is divisible by 3, therefore
252 is.
252÷ 3 = 84. Now it makes my
life easier.

You can also just run through on your calculator quickly. You never have to go
higher than the square root of the number.

Your turn
1) 21

2) 35

3) 42
4) 50

5) 130

6) 176

7) 256
8) 546

9) 1296

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