the LCM of 42 and 126 using a prime factorization is 2 times 2 times 3
You need at least two numbers to find an LCM.
It is: 126
You need at least two numbers to find a GCF, whichever method you use.
To find the prime factorization of 126 using the ladder method, we start by dividing 126 by the smallest prime number, which is 2. This gives us 63. Then, we divide 63 by 3, which gives us 21. Continuing this process, we find that 21 can be divided by 3 again to get 7. Therefore, the prime factorization of 126 is 2 x 3 x 3 x 7, or 2 x 3^2 x 7.
2 x 32 x 7 = 126
2 x 32 x 7
2x3x3x7
The prime factorization of a number is the primes whose product gives you that number.126/2 = 6363/3 = 2121/3 = 7The bold numbers are the primes. The prime factorization is just the product of these numbers. In this case: 2 x 3 x 3 x 7.Or simplified:2 x 32 x 7
126 63,2 21,3,2 7,3,3,2
42 126 ^ ^ 7x6 14x9 ^ 3x2 ^ ^ 7x2 3x3 7x3x2=LCM is 42
That's not a prime factorization because 9 isn't prime, but it does represent the number 126.