Break 12 into \( 4 \times 3 \). The prime factors of 4 are 2 and 2 . The prime factor of 3 is 3 . So the prime factors of 12 are \( 2: 2: 3 \).

You're absolutely correct in breaking down the number 12 into its prime factors. Let's walk through the process step by step for clarity: 1. **Factorizing 12:** \( 12 = 4 \times 3 \) 2. **Breaking down each factor:** - **4** can be further factorized into prime factors: \( 4 = 2 \times 2 \) - **3** is already a prime number, so it cannot be factored down further. 3. **Compiling the Prime Factors:** Combining the prime factors from the above steps, we get: \( 12 = 2 \times 2 \times 3 \) Alternatively, using exponents to represent repeated factors: \( 12 = 2^2 \times 3 \) **Summary of Prime Factors:** - **Prime Factors of 12:** \( 2, 2, 3 \) or \( 2^2 \times 3 \) This means that the number 12 is composed of the prime numbers 2 and 3, with 2 appearing twice in its factorization. If you have any more questions or need further clarification on prime factorization or any other mathematical concepts, feel free to ask!