Prime Factorization

Free interactive math game: Prime Factorization — 60 = 2·2·3·5. Part of the Divisibility & Numbers category on MathKite.

Example problems

Taken from the generator that powers this exercise. A fresh set appears every time the page is opened, and the printable worksheet holds ten of them.

  1. Factor 125 into primes
  2. Factor 63 into primes
  3. Factor 294 into primes
  4. Factor 210 into primes

About this exercise

Writing a number as a product of primes, which is its unique fingerprint.

How to solve it

Divide by the smallest prime that fits and keep going with the quotient until only primes remain.

Worked example

12 divides by 2 to give 6, which divides by 2 to give 3, so 12 = 2 x 2 x 3.

Common mistake

Leaving a composite in the answer. Writing 12 as 2 x 6 is not finished, because 6 still breaks down.