Factors and Simplest Form: Concept check

**Euclid Alexandria** · March 14th 2006, 05:08 AM

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?

**CaptainBlack** · March 14th 2006, 06:16 AM

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

**Euclid Alexandria** · March 16th 2006, 07:37 PM

Thanks Captain.

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

**CaptainBlack** · March 17th 2006, 01:01 AM

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

**ThePerfectHacker** · March 17th 2006, 08:27 AM

I prefer to write $2^3\cdot 3^2$ using the LaTeX ommand \cdot

**CaptainBlack** · March 17th 2006, 08:38 AM

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

**Euclid Alexandria** · March 19th 2006, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the TeX pointers guys.

**ThePerfectHacker** · March 19th 2006, 01:21 PM

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 $x$ .

**CaptainBlack** · March 19th 2006, 02:06 PM

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

Thread: Factors and Simplest Form: Concept check

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Factors and Simplest Form: Concept check

Similar Math Help Forum Discussions

Simplest form from these offerings

simplest form

Re-write the following in their simplest form

simplest form

Factors and Simplest Form: Concept Check

Search Tags