Question

What is the prime factorization of 560?

Answer 1

You don't need to be in a hurry to find them. You also needn't find them all at once. Just find ANY factor and see where it leads.

560 is even. There is a factor of 2

560 = 2*280

280 is even, there is a factor of 2

\(560 = 2*2*140 = 2^{2}\cdot 140\)

Continue on this way until you have only prime factors remaining.

Answer 2

It doesn't always have to be 2. Whatever you see is good. Maybe next would be...

\(560 = 2^{2}\cdot 140 = 2^{2}\cdot 10\cdot 14\)

Not this time, but sometimes, you need to know that 51 = 3*17 :-) People mistake 51 for prime. Nope. You have to have the Prime Numbers in your head.