# Factors and Simplest Form: Concept check

• March 14th 2006, 05:08 AM
Euclid Alexandria
Factors and Simplest Form: Concept check
The following is my explanation of why it is false that the prime factorization of 72 is 2 * 4 * 9.

It is false that the prime factorization of 72 is 2 * 4 * 9, because 4 and 9 are not prime numbers. 4 can be further simplified to 2 * 2, and 9 can be further simplified to 3 * 3.

Is my answer clear and correct?
• March 14th 2006, 06:16 AM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by Euclid Alexandria
The following is my explanation of why it is false that the prime factorization of 72 is 2 * 4 * 9.

It is false that the prime factorization of 72 is 2 * 4 * 9, because 4 and 9 are not prime numbers. 4 can be further simplified to 2 * 2, and 9 can be further simplified to 3 * 3.

Is my answer clear and correct?

Looks OK to me.

Now that you have done all the work it would be worth a few marks
to actually give the correct prime factorisation.

RonL
• March 16th 2006, 07:37 PM
Euclid Alexandria
Thanks Captain.

Oh and $2^3 * 3^2$ (if that's the correct way of writing it)!
• March 17th 2006, 01:01 AM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by Euclid Alexandria
Thanks Captain.

Oh and $2^3 * 3^2$ (if that's the correct way of writing it)!

That looks good. Though you could use the following alternate TeX formats:

$2^3\ 3^2$

$2^3 \times 3^2$

which, to me at least, cosmetically look better .

RonL
• March 17th 2006, 08:27 AM
ThePerfectHacker
I prefer to write $2^3\cdot 3^2$ using the LaTeX ommand \cdot
• March 17th 2006, 08:38 AM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker
I prefer to write $2^3\cdot 3^2$ using the LaTeX ommand \cdot

I try to avoid this, as when I was 10 we were taught to use $\cdot$ as the decimal point.

So I prefer juxtaposition or a multiplication symbol.

RonL
• March 19th 2006, 12:59 PM
Euclid Alexandria
Thanks for the TeX pointers guys.
• March 19th 2006, 01:21 PM
ThePerfectHacker
Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainBlack
I try to avoid this, as when I was 10 we were taught to use $\cdot$ as the decimal point.

So I prefer juxtaposition or a multiplication symbol.

RonL

I was taught the juxatoposition of $\times$ may be confused for $x$.
• March 19th 2006, 02:06 PM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker
I was taught the juxatoposition of $\times$ may be confused for $x$.

But we are using TeX, so its not a problem. Also its not a problem in
manuscript if you are careful.

RonL