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A1. Integers
Prime factor decomposition backcontentsmore
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Both 2 and 3 are factors of 12; 2 and 3 are also prime numbers. Therefore, we say that 2 and 3 are prime factors of 12. They are the only prime factors of 12.

When 12 is written as 2 × 2 × 3, it has been written as a product of its prime factors.

The number 15 can be written as 3 × 5
The number 18 can be written as 2 × 3 × 3.
The number 28 can be written as 2 × 2 × 7.

The process of expressing a number as a product of its prime factors is called prime factor decomposition.

Often the product of prime factors is written using index notation, for example,
18=2 × 3², 28=2² × 7.

Can you find any decompositions where each prime factor occurs twice?
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