what is the prime factorization for the monomial without using exponents: 18xy

Question

mathstudent55 · Answer

What are the prime factors of 18?

mitu12 · Answer

2*2*3*y*x

anonymous · Answer

HI mitu12. I believe you were the one that I had helped earlier? 

Factoring is really simple if you understand the basic idea that all numbers, (composite) are built up with prime numbers. 

Like 36 is made up of 2 x 2 x 3 x 3. 
It's just a matter of splitting it up. 

So, lets take a look at your problem. 

18 can be divided by 2 = 9
9 can be divided by 3 = 3

2 x 3 x 3 = 18

"X" and "Y" are pretty much prime numbers themselves basically because we cannot factor them any more than we can factor the number 2. 

Your answer should be 2 x 3 x 3 x "x" x "y"

Hopefully this helps.

mitu12 · Answer

yes

mathstudent55 · Answer

2 * 2 * 3 = 12
2 * 3 * 3 = 18 = 2 * 3^2

The prime factorization of 18xy is 2 * 3^2 * x * y