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What does it mean (to the process of finding all factors) that I have found 2 PRIME factors as a factor pair?

User Neohope
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1 Answer

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Answer:

It means that you are done.

Explanation:

When you are trying to find factors of a number or an algebraic expression, you must keep on factoring until you have all PRIME factors. PRIME factors cannot be further factored. So that means you are done factoring.

example: (a number)

6

factors: 2 and 3

2 and 3 are prime they can't be factored anymore so you have completely factored 6.

example: 20

factors: 4 and 5

5 is prime but 4 is not, so you can factor it more.

4 is 2×2

So 20 factored is 2×2×5

Or algebra example:

Factor x^4 - 81

factors: x^2 - 9 and x^2 + 9

x^2 + 9 cannot be factored more (prime) but x^2-9 can. Its x-3 and x+3.

User Rex Kerr
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