In this math unit, students begin by learning and reinforcing skills in prime factorization, starting with basic factor trees involving three factors and progressing to more complex exercises. They use factor trees to break down numbers into prime factors by identifying missing elements, calculating possible combinations, and explaining their multiplicative relationships. Exercises gradually increase in complexity by introducing factor trees with up to four factors and demanding explanations for sections of the trees. As the unit progresses, students practice expressing these factorizations using exponents, further developing their understanding of numerical properties and relationships. Towards the end of the unit, the focus shifts to identifying prime numbers through direct comparison and assessments on whether given numbers are prime or composite. This structure reinforces their ability to distinguish between prime and composite numbers, a foundational skill crucial for advanced mathematical concepts in number theory. The culmination of these topics prepares students effectively in handling prime factorization, manipulation of exponents, and number classification, paving the way for more in-depth mathematical exploration.
Skills you will learn include:
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