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GCSE Mathematics · key term
Writing a whole number greater than 1 as a product containing only prime numbers.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification N4 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
Revise: Primes, Factors, and MultiplesA prime factorisation expresses a number as a product containing only primes. One method is a factor tree: split a composite number into two factors, then keep splitting every composite factor. The branches must not stop until every endpoint is prime.
Specification N4 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
Writing an integer greater than 1 as a product of prime numbers.
When asked for a prime factorisation, give a product containing primes only and use index notation where factors repeat.
Check a prime factorisation by multiplying the prime factors together to recover the original number.
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Prime factorisation expresses an integer as a product containing prime numbers only. A factor tree makes the repeated decomposition visible. Begin with any factor pair, then split every composite factor again.
Specification 1.02b, 1.02c · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher), Paper 5 (Higher), Paper 6 (Higher)
An expression of a whole number greater than 1 as a product consisting only of prime numbers.
Revise: Prime FactorisationA prime factorisation writes a whole number greater than 1 as a product made entirely from prime numbers.
An expression of a whole number as a product containing only prime factors.