It works because even if the numbers are broken apart, you are still multiplying the numbers by their values, it's only different because once broken apart, it's in expanded form instead of standard form. It also makes multiplication easier since you don't have to deal with such large numbers.
Answer:
2 x 2 x 2 x 3
Step-by-step explanation:
Find two numbers that multiply together to form 24:
2 x 12 = 24
Find two numbers that multiply together to form 12, a factor of 24. Replace 12 with these numbers:
2 x (2 x 6) = 2 x 12 = 24
Find two numbers that multiply together to form 6, a factor of 12. Replace 6 with these numbers:
2 x (2 x (2 x 3)) = 2 x (2x6) = 2 x 12 = 24
Two and three cannot be factored any further, therefore the prime factors of 24 are 2, 2, 2, and 3.
