Question

Express the following numbers as a product of their prime factors

24
Please show working

Answer 1

2 x 2 x 2 x 3

Explanation:

Find two numbers that multiply together to form 24:

2 x 12 = 24

Find two numbers that multiply together to form 12, a factor of 24. Replace 12 with these numbers:

2 x (2 x 6) = 2 x 12 = 24

Find two numbers that multiply together to form 6, a factor of 12. Replace 6 with these numbers:

2 x (2 x (2 x 3)) = 2 x (2x6) = 2 x 12 = 24

Two and three cannot be factored any further, therefore the prime factors of 24 are 2, 2, 2, and 3.