All composite numbers can be expressed as unique products of prime numbers. This is accomplished by dividing the original number and its factors by prime numbers until all the factors are prime. A factor tree can help you visualize this.
Example: 210
210 Divide by two.
105,2 Divide by three.
35,3,2 Divide by five.
7,5,3,2 Stop. All the factors are prime.
2 x 3 x 5 x 7 = 210
That's the prime factorization of 210.
a prime factorization tree
612 306,2 153,2,2 51,3,2,2 17,3,3,2,2
96 48,2 24,2,2 12,2,2,2 6,2,2,2,2 3,2,2,2,2,2
the prime factorization of 32 is 2x2x2x2x2 and the factor tree is 32 8 4 2x4 2x2 2x2
If completed correctly, the bottom branch of a factor tree will be the prime factorization of the number at the top.
1997 is already prime; no tree.
51 3,17
350=2x5x5x7
a prime factorization tree
33 11,3
The prime factorization of 97 is 97 itself, as it is a prime number and cannot be divided evenly by any other numbers. Therefore, there is no prime factorization tree for the number 97.
50 25,2 5,5,2
131 is already prime. No tree.
585 195,3 65,3,3 13,5,3,3
141 = 3 x 47
572=2x286=2x2x143=2x2x11x13
3 is already prime. No need for a tree.