Write the prime factorization of 18 . Use exponents when appropriate and order the factors
from least to greatest (for example, ).

The prime factorization of 18 is . Here, 2 is raised to the first power as it appears once in the factorization, and 3 is raised to the second power since it occurs twice. So, in ordered form, you get .

Fun fact: Prime factorization is like unveiling the secrets of a number! It’s how mathematicians break down numbers into their building blocks, much like how chefs deconstruct a dish to understand its ingredients. The beauty of it is that every number has a unique prime factorization, just like a fingerprint!