Lesson 2: Factorizing a Number to its Prime Factors

 A prime number is a whole number that has two different factors,

1 & itself.
Ex.: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47,53, 59, 61,
67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97, …. etc.
 All prime numbers are odd except 2.
 The smallest prime number is 2.
 The only even prime number is 2.
 The smallest odd prime number is 3.
 1 is neither a prime nor a composite number.
 Prime factorization means writing the composite number as the
product of prime numbers.
 A composite number is a whole number that has more than two
factors.
Ex.: 4,6,9,12,25,30, …… etc.
 How can you write a number as a product of prime factors?

Every composite number can be written as a product of prime

factors. This product is called the prime factorization of a number.

You can use a “prime factor tree” to find the prime factorization.

 Ex.: To write 24 as a product of prime factors [ prime factorization]:

 Write 24 as a product of two factors.

 Write each composite factor as a product of two factors.

 Continue until all branches end in prime number then circle the

prime factors and put a square around the composite factors.

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  The prime factorization of 24 is a multiplication string of the

circled prime factors.

 To find the G.C.F. & the L.C.M. using prime factorization:

Find the G.C.F. & L.C.M. for 12 and 16

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 To find the G.C.F. & the L.C.M. using a Venn diagram:

 Find the G.C.F. & L.C.M. for 18 and 12 using a Venn diagram:

1) Factorize the two numbers

into their prime factors using
the factors tree.

2) Draw two intersecting

circles, a circle for the prime
factors of each number.

3) Place the prime factors for

each number in its circle so
that the common prime factors
of the two numbers are in the
common part between the two
circles.
4) The greatest common factor
of the two numbers is the
product of factors presented in
the common part between the
two circles.
G.C.F. = 2 × 3 = 6

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 5) The least common multiple
of the two numbers is the
product of all the factors in
the two circles.
L.C.M. = 2 × 3 × 2 × 3 = 36

Relatively Prime Numbers

 The relatively prime numbers are numbers whose only common

factor is 1.

Ex.: 8 and 9 are composite numbers.

8=2×2×2

9= ×3×3

Then, G.C.F = 1.

Then, 8 and 9 are two relatively prime numbers.

L.C.M = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 72.

Note:

 The L.C.M. of the relatively prime numbers is their product.

Ex.: L.C.M. of 8 and 9 is 8 × 9 = 72

 If there are no common prime factors, the G.C.F. is 1

Ex.: G.C.F. of 3 & 17 is 1

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 Sheet (3)

1) Complete:

a) The prime number has only ………… factors …… and …………

b) The L.C.M. of the two relatively prime numbers is …………………

c) Two numbers are relatively prime numbers if their G.C.F. is ………

d) ……… is a multiple of any number.

e) From the opposite Venn diagram G.C.F.

= …………………

f) The common factor of all numbers is ...............

g) From the opposite Venn diagram G.C.F.

= …………………

h) From the opposite Venn diagram L.C.M.

= …………………

2) Find the G.C.F.& L.C.M. for each of the following using Venn diagram: