Prime factorization is writing a number as the product of only its prime factors. A prime factor is a number that is both a factor of the original number and a prime number.
Steps to Find Prime Factorization
Start with the smallest prime number (2) and divide.
Keep dividing by prime numbers (2, 3, 5, 7, etc.) until you reach 1.
Write the number as a product of the prime numbers you used.
Examples
Prime factorization of 12: 2 × 2 × 3
Prime factorization of 18: 2 × 3 × 3
Prime factorization of 36: 2 × 2 × 3 × 3
Helpful Tips
Use a factor tree to break numbers down into primes.
Check your work by multiplying the prime numbers back together.