Prime Factorization and LCM

Procedure to find the Prime Factorization of a Composite Number

1. Factor the composite number into any two factors. 2. Factor each factor that is not prime into two more factors. 3. Continue this process until all factors are prime.

Procedure to find the LCM of a set of counting numbers

1. Find the prime factorization of each number. 2. List the prime factors that appear in any one of the prime factorizations. 3. Find the product of these primes using each prime the greatest number of times it appears in any one of the prime factorizations.

The only even prime number

2 is the only even prime number

Prime Number

A counting number greater than 1 that has exactly two different factors (or divisors), namely 1 and itself.

Composite Numbers

A counting number with more than two different factors (or divisors).

Even Whole Numbers

If a whole number is divisible by 2, it is even

Odd Whole Numbers

If a whole number is not divisible by 2, it is odd

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47

Prime numbers less than 50.

Prime Factorization

The product of all the prime factors.