Missing Branches

Worksheet Description

This worksheet provides a series of prime factor tree diagrams to teach students the method of breaking down composite numbers into their prime factors. Each diagram starts with a composite number at the top, partially broken down into factors, with some prime factors already filled in. Students are expected to complete each tree by finding the remaining factors until only prime numbers remain. The numbers given for factorization include 18, 27, 20, 42, 52, and 30, representing a range of two and three-digit numbers.

The prime factor tree worksheet is a hands-on way for students to understand the concept of prime factorization. This mathematical technique involves dividing a number into its prime number components, which are the numbers that only have two distinct positive divisors: one and themselves. Through this activity, students reinforce their knowledge of division and multiplication, identify prime and composite numbers, and learn to systematically break down numbers to their basic building blocks. These skills are essential for a deeper comprehension of number theory, and are particularly useful for simplifying fractions and finding greatest common factors.