Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
Definitions
Prime number: A whole number greater than 1 that cannot be made by multiplying other whole numbers.
Prime Factorization: Prime numbers that multiply together to make the original number.
The first few prime numbers are: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, ...
To find which prime numbers multiply together to make 252, begin by dividing 252 by the first prime number, 2:
⇒ 252 ÷ 2 = 126
As 126 is not a prime number, we need to divide again.
⇒ 126 ÷ 2 = 63
As 63 is not a prime number, and 63 is not divisible by 2, try dividing it by the next prime number, 3:
⇒ 63 ÷ 3 = 21
As 63 is not a prime number, divide again.
⇒ 21 ÷ 3 = 7
As 7 is a prime number, we can stop.
Therefore, 252 is the product of:
⇒ 252 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 7
As 2 and 3 appear twice, we can write these using exponents:
⇒ 252 = 2² × 3² × 7
