Question

Write 56 as a product of prime factors. I needed help answering this...

Answer 1

Well, factors of 56 are 7 and 8, 7 is a prime number so you can't break it down more, but you can break 8 down more. The factors of 8 are 4 and 2, 2 is a prime number so it can't be broken down anymore, but you can still break down 4. The factors of 4 are 2 and 2, 2 is a prime number so you can't break it down anymore. So your answer is 2 to the 3rd power times 7.

Answer 2

2^3 x 7.

Prime factors are factors of any numbers that have 1 and itself as a factor. 2 is a prime factor since 1 and 2 are the only factors that can go into. The same for 7. The goal is to take the lowest factors of 56. 2 can go into 56 three times and 7 can go into 56 one time. If you multiplied these factors together then you would get 56. Also, 2^3 and 7 are all the prime factors of 56. Good luck!