Study Guides/Maths/Factors of 72 — All Factors and Prime Factorization
Study Guide · Maths

Factors of 72 — Complete List and Prime Factorization

The factors of 72 are all the numbers that divide 72 exactly (without leaving a remainder). The factors of 72 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 72. That gives 72 a total of 12 factors. The prime factorization of 72 is 2³ × 3².

Question (Click to Flip)

What are the factors of 72?

Answer

The factors of 72 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 72. Total: 12 factors. Prime factorization: 72 = 2³ × 3².

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Key Facts

Factors of 72: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72 (total 12 factors).

Prime factorization: 72 = 2³ × 3².

Factor pairs: (1,72), (2,36), (3,24), (4,18), (6,12), (8,9).

Number of factors = (3+1)(2+1) = 12.

72 is NOT a perfect square (exponent of 2 is odd).

√72 = 6√2 ≈ 8.49.

All Factors of 72 — Complete List

Factors of 72: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72 Total number of factors: 12

Verification (check each divides 72 exactly): 72 ÷ 1 = 72 ✓ 72 ÷ 2 = 36 ✓ 72 ÷ 3 = 24 ✓ 72 ÷ 4 = 18 ✓ 72 ÷ 6 = 12 ✓ 72 ÷ 8 = 9 ✓ 72 ÷ 9 = 8 ✓ 72 ÷ 12 = 6 ✓ 72 ÷ 18 = 4 ✓ 72 ÷ 24 = 3 ✓ 72 ÷ 36 = 2 ✓ 72 ÷ 72 = 1 ✓

Factor pairs of 72: 1 × 72 = 72 2 × 36 = 72 3 × 24 = 72 4 × 18 = 72 6 × 12 = 72 8 × 9 = 72

Prime Factorization of 72

Prime factorization by division method: 72 ÷ 2 = 36 36 ÷ 2 = 18 18 ÷ 2 = 9 9 ÷ 3 = 3 3 ÷ 3 = 1

Prime factorization: 72 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 2³ × 3²

Number of factors formula: If n = p^a × q^b, then total factors = (a+1)(b+1) 72 = 2³ × 3² → factors = (3+1)(2+1) = 4 × 3 = 12 ✓

Is 72 a perfect square? No. For a perfect square, all prime factor exponents must be even. 72 = 2³ × 3² — exponent of 2 is 3 (odd) → NOT a perfect square

Is 72 a perfect cube? No. For a perfect cube, all exponents must be divisible by 3. 72 = 2³ × 3² — exponent of 3 is 2 (not divisible by 3) → NOT a perfect cube

Nearest perfect square: 64 (8²) and 81 (9²) √72 = √(36×2) = 6√2 ≈ 8.49

Questions and Answers

What are the factors of 72?+

The factors of 72 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 72. Total: 12 factors. Prime factorization: 72 = 2³ × 3².

What is the prime factorization of 72?+

72 = 2³ × 3² = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3. Division: 72÷2=36, 36÷2=18, 18÷2=9, 9÷3=3, 3÷3=1.

How many factors does 72 have?+

72 has 12 factors. Using the formula: 72 = 2³ × 3², so factors = (3+1)(2+1) = 12.

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