Prime factorisation Example: factors of 18

Let us take the composite (2 Find Prime

Solution:
number 12 and think of it as 6
the topmost part of atree. 2) x(3)
Let us now go down the tree 18
bythinking of the factors 3) X 6
that make 12:
Here, the factors are 2 and 6. 12
2 is a prime number, but 6 is 3) x4
I8 are
acomposite number. We can 2 Prime factors of
break 6 down to its prime 2x3x3
factors, 2 and 3.

the factors are 3 and 4.3 is a prime number, but 4 is a composIte

Here, and 2.
number. We can break 4 down to its prime factors, 2
2 x 2 x3 are the prime factors of 12.
break down a number to its prime factors, we call that the
When we
prime factorisation of that number.
Prime factors can never be composite numbers.
factors is
An easy method to break up larger numbers into their prime
the division method.
Let us first find the prime factors of 36 and 45, using the division method.
36 is an even number, sOwe divide bs 2:

2)36
2) 18 we divide by 2again
3) 9 we divide by 3
s)3 we divide by 3 again

The prime factors of 36 are 2, 2, 3, and 3.

 45 is an odd number, but it can be divided by 3.

3)45
3)15 we divide by 3 again
5) 5 we divide by 5 again

The prime factors of 45 are 3, 3, and 5.

Exercise 2d
1. Fill in the blanks.
a. 2, 3, 5 are prime factors of 3 0 .
b. The prime factors of 4| are I and 41
C. There are_ prime factors of 58.
d. The prime factors of I0 are Jt 2 and
e. Prime factor can neverver be aa tmhsit. number.
2. State whether the following are true or false.
The prime factor of a number divides the number completely.
(Toun )
b. The prime factors of 100 are 2, 3, 5, 5, 10. ( Fb)
C. Afactor tree is used to find prime factors. ( Br
d. Prime factors of numbers are prime numbers.( t F)
e. 2is the only prime factor of the number 6.(Palas )
3. Select the correct answer from the given options.
a. 3, 3, 3, and 5 are prime factors of
A 27 B 45 135
b. The prime factors of I 10 are
5, I| 9 2,2, 5,5, I| | © 2, 2, 5, 5 O 2and 55
C. The prime factors of 50 are 2, 5 and
A 2 5
d. The prime factor is always
aprime number the smallest factor
Oa composite number O the biggest factor