Final answer:
Factors of 45 are determined using the ladder method, resulting in 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, and 45 as prime factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the factors of 45 using the ladder method, you use a process similar to prime factorization, where you break down the number into its prime factors.
Start by dividing 45 by the smallest prime number you can, which is 5.
This gives us 9. Then, divide 9 by 3 (another prime number), which gives us 3.
Recognize that 3 is also a prime number. Now you have the prime factors: 5 and 3 (twice).
So the factors of 45 are 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, and 45.