Question

Select the correct prime factorization of 48

• A. $2^4\times 3$
• B. $16\times 3$
• C. $2\times 3^3$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $2^4\times 3$

Let's find the prime factorization using factor tree method:

Factors of 48 by prime factorization are given by using the following steps.

Step 1: Write the pair of factors, which on multiplication gives the required number.
48 = 2 × 24

Step 2: See the factors, whether each one of them is prime or not.

24 is not a prime number and can be dissociated as a product of 2 by 12.

12 is not a prime number and can be dissociated as a product of 2 and 6.
6 is not a prime number and can be dissociated as a product of 2 and 3.

Step 3: As per the criteria, 49 can be written as 54 = 2 × 24
= 2 × 2 × 12
= 2 × 2 × 2 × 6
=2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3

So, prime the factorization of 48
= 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 ×3.
$=2^4\times 3$