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.
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A composite factor is a factor that is a composite number, as opposed to a prime factor which is a factor that is a prime number.
2 is a prime number because its only factors are one and itself. Since 2 is a prime number, if it is a factor of your number, it is a prime factor.
The purpose of a factor tree is to divide a number into prime factors. 1 is not a prime number.
13 is a prime number so the only factors are 1 and itself.
43 is a prime number. Its only prime factor is itself.