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Prime Factors
math/learn/prime factors/
All numbers are made by prime factors. A prime factor is a factor that is a prime number. There are two ways of finding the prime factors of a number.
Making a Factor Tree
Start with any pair of factors of the number. Now, factor those two numbers. If one of the numbers is prime, bring it down. If both numbers are prime, you are done. Continue using this method until you reach all prime factors at the bottom of your tree. Try multiplying all those numbers together. Did you end up with the original number? According to the law of math, it doesn't matter what order the prime numbers are in. Here is an example below:
Dividing to Find the Prime Factors
Start by dividing the number by a prime number that is a factor of the original number. Continue using this method until you reach a prime number. Again, according to the law of math, it doesn't matter what order the prime numbers are in. I think this is a quicker and easier way to find prime factors. Here is an example below:
 
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