How is finding the factors of a number different from finding the prime factorization of a number.

When finding factors of a number, you are just finding numbers that can factor into it. When finding the prime factorization, you are narrowing down the factors to the smallest factored numbers.

Ex: 40 •The bolded numbers are the most simplified factors.

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8 5

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4 2 The prime factorization of 40 is 5 x 2^3.

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2 2