Question

Part 1:Is it possible for a composite number to have more than one prime factorization? Is it possible for a number to have no prime factors? Why?

Part 2: Give an example of how prime factorization could be used in the real world.

Answer 1

Part 1:Is it possible for a composite number to have more than one prime factorization?

Answer: No.

Is it possible for a number to have no prime factors? Why?

Answer: Yes. The number 1 has no prime factors, and 1 is not prime.

Part 2: Give an example of how prime factorization could be used in the real world.

Answer: A carpenter needs to add two lengths to cut a piece of wood. One length is 5 1/16 inch, and the other length is 3 3/10 in. By using prime factors of 16 and 10, he can find the least common denominator of 16 and 10, and he can add the lengths together.

Explanation:

Answer 2

There is only 1 set of prime factors for any number

A prime number can be divided evenly only by 1 or itself, so it would not have any prime factors

Part 2

Prime factorization is used by people who try to make or break secret codes made with numbers, because factoring really large numbers is difficult and can take computers a long time to do it.