The prime factorization of 5 has only one factor, which is 5 itself.
Explanation
Based on the reference provided:
What are the prime factors of 5? We know that 5 is a prime number, which means it has only two factors, i.e. 1 and 5. Thus, the only prime factor of 5 is the number itself.
This explanation highlights that while 5 has two factors (1 and 5), the prime factorization only involves prime numbers. Therefore, the prime factorization of 5 is simply 5. The question asks how many factors are in the prime factorization of 5. Since the prime factorization is simply "5," there is only one factor.
Factors vs. Prime Factors
It's important to distinguish between factors and prime factors.
- Factors: Numbers that divide evenly into another number. For 5, these are 1 and 5.
- Prime Factors: Prime numbers that divide evenly into another number. For 5, the only prime factor is 5.
Example
| Number | Factors | Prime Factorization | Number of Factors in the Prime Factorization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1, 2, 3, 6 | 2 x 3 | 2 |
| 12 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 | 2 x 2 x 3 (or 22 x 3) | 2 |
| 5 | 1, 5 | 5 | 1 |
