Question

What is the prime factorization of 312?

Answer 1

You find the prime factorization by breaking the number down into other numbers that are prime.  Start by breaking up 312 into 39 * 8.  39 breaks up into 3 * 13, and 8 breaks up into 4 * 2 which breaks up into 2 * 2.  So the prime factorization of 312 is 3 * 13 * 2 * 2 * 2 or $3*13* 2^{3}$.  When you multiply those together you'll get 312.

Answer 2

The Prime Factorization of 312 is 3 x 13 x 2^3