Prime Factorization Examples

What are the prime factors of 32?

Here are two ways to prime factorize 32.

Either way, we get 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2, or 2⁵.

What are the prime factors of 60?

As usual, we've got a few different options for breaking down 60 into its prime factors. Here are two of 'em.

No matter which factor tree we start out with, we should get the same final answer:

2² × 3 × 5

What are the prime factors of 132?

You know the drill. Let's factor tree it up. Here are a couple options.

Whether we start with 4 and 33 or with 2 and 66 (or some other two factors), our final list of prime factors oughta look like this:

2² × 3 × 11