Find prime factors of 180
Break any number into its prime factors with a complete factor tree.
180
Divide 180 by the smallest prime factors repeatedly:
Step 1: Is 180 divisible by 2?
180 is even (last digit is 0)
180 ÷ 2 = 90
Step 2: Is 90 divisible by 2?
90 is even (last digit is 0)
90 ÷ 2 = 45
Step 3: Is 45 divisible by 3?
digit sum = 9 (divisible by 3)
45 ÷ 3 = 15
Step 4: Is 15 divisible by 3?
digit sum = 6 (divisible by 3)
15 ÷ 3 = 5
Step 5:
5 ÷ 5 = 1
Prime factorization (expanded):
180 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5
In exponential form:
180 = 22 × 32 × 5
180 = 22 × 32 × 5
How to find prime factors of 180
To find the prime factorization of 180, start dividing by the smallest prime factor (2), then try 3, 5, 7, and so on until the quotient is 1. Each prime factor and its power make up the factorization.
This is a prime factorization — every integer greater than 1 has a unique prime factorization. We find it by dividing by the smallest primes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to 180?
The answer is 180 = 2² × 3² × 5.
What method is used?
repeated division — divide by 2, then 3, then 5, and so on until the quotient is 1.