2. What is the prime factorization of 216 ?

To find the prime factorization of 216, start by dividing it by the smallest prime number, which is 2. You will find that 216 ÷ 2 = 108, then divide 108 by 2 to get 54, and again divide 54 by 2 to get 27. At this point, you switch to the next prime number, which is 3. Dividing 27 by 3 gives you 9, and dividing 9 by 3 gives you 3, and dividing 3 by 3 gets you down to 1. Therefore, the prime factorization of 216 is 2^3 × 3^3. Fun fact: 216 is a perfect cube! It equals 6 x 6 x 6 (or 6³), which means it aligns perfectly with geometry and even has practical uses in construction and design where cubic measurements matter. Just imagine building a perfect cube-shaped structure; 216 cubic units would give you an idea of the volume you need!