Which expression represents the prime factorization of 12?

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Multiple Choice

Which expression represents the prime factorization of 12?

Explanation:
Prime factorization expresses a number as a product of prime numbers. For 12, break it down by primes: 12 = 2 × 6, and 6 = 2 × 3, so 12 = 2 × 2 × 3. This uses only prime factors, which is what prime factorization requires. The other expressions include composite numbers (like 4 or 6), so they aren’t a true prime factorization. The order doesn’t matter, so 2×2×3 is the same as 3×2×2.

Prime factorization expresses a number as a product of prime numbers. For 12, break it down by primes: 12 = 2 × 6, and 6 = 2 × 3, so 12 = 2 × 2 × 3. This uses only prime factors, which is what prime factorization requires. The other expressions include composite numbers (like 4 or 6), so they aren’t a true prime factorization. The order doesn’t matter, so 2×2×3 is the same as 3×2×2.

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