Write the composite number you want to factor on a piece of paper.
Write one of its factor pairs underneath it.
If possible, keep breaking each factor down until all the factors are prime.
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.
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When the bottom branch consists entirely of prime numbers.
Not really. A factor string is a multiplication sentence. A factor tree is a way of notating the process of finding the prime factorization of a given number. End result: 4 x 9 can be a factor string for 36, but can't be a prime factorization. The prime factorization of 36 is 2 x 2 x 3 x 3.
No if you put honey on the tree then with luck (lucky egg) you will encounter munchlax eventualy.
Notice whether the number is odd or even. If it's even, the first prime factor is 2.
The difference is between factor pairs and distinct factors. With square numbers, one of the factor pairs will be the same number twice. When listing the distinct factors, that number is only listed once.