Answer:
60 = 2² x 3 x 5
Step-by-step explanation:
Prime Factorization is finding which prime numbers multiply together to make the original number.
A Prime Number is a whole number (integer) greater than 1 that cannot be made by multiplying other whole numbers.
Prime numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17 etc.
- Begin by dividing 60 by the first prime number, 2:
60 ÷ 2 = 30, so 2 is our first factor.
- As 30 is not a prime number, we need to go further:
30 ÷ 2 = 15, so 2 is our second factor.
- As 15 is not a prime number, we need to go further still.
15 is not divisible by 2, so let's try dividing it by 3:
15 ÷ 3 = 5, so 3 is our third factor.
- 5 is a prime number, so we stop here ⇒ 5 is our fourth and final factor.
Therefore, 60 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 = 60
We can write this using exponents as 2 x 2 = 2²
Therefore, 60 = 2² x 3 x 5
