Answer:
5
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the prime factorization of a number, start by dividing the number by each prime number that you can divide by as many times as possible, starting with the smallest prime number and moving up. Then move on to the next prime number. The last division must give a quotient of 1. Then the prime factorization is the product of all the prime factors you divided the number by.
Here's how you use this method with 180.
Here are the first 10 prime numbers:
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29
Start by trying to divide by 2. 180 is divisible by 2.
180/2 = 90 90 is divisible by 2.
90/2 = 45 45 is not divisible by 2, so now try 3.
45/3 = 15 15 is divisible by 3.
15/3 = 5 5 is prime, so it is divisible by 5.
5/5 = 1 The divisors in bold are the prime factors of 180.
180 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5
180 = 2² × 3² × 5
Answer: 5
