What is the prime factorization of 12 using exponents?

The prime factorization of 12 using exponents is 2² × 3¹.

To break it down, we first find the prime numbers that multiply to give us 12. We can start by dividing 12 by the smallest prime number, which is 2:

• 12 ÷ 2 = 6

Next, we can continue factoring 6:

• 6 ÷ 2 = 3

Now we have reached 3, which is also a prime number. Therefore, we can express 12 as:

• 12 = 2 × 2 × 3

To express this using exponents, we note that 2 appears twice. Thus, we can write:

• 12 = 2² × 3¹

In conclusion, the prime factorization of 12 using exponents is 2² × 3¹.