Question

write the prime factorization of 10. use exponents when appropriate and order the factors from least to greatest (for example, $2^2 \cdot 3 \cdot 5$).

Explanation:

Step1: Identify prime factors

Prime factors are prime numbers that multiply to give the original number. For 10, we start by dividing by the smallest prime number, 2. $10 \div 2 = 5$.

Step2: Check if factors are prime

Both 2 and 5 are prime numbers (they have no other factors besides 1 and themselves). Since we can't factor them further, we write the prime factorization.

Step3: Order and use exponents

Order the factors from least to greatest. Both 2 and 5 appear once, so we don't need to use exponents (or we can think of them as having an exponent of 1, which is usually omitted). So the prime factorization is $2 \cdot 5$.

Answer:

$2 \cdot 5$