Which expression represents the prime factorization of 60?

• A. 2^2 * 3 * 5
• B. 2 * 2 * 15
• C. 4 * 15
• D. 6 * 10

Answer: (A)

Prime factorization expresses a number as a product of prime numbers. For 60, keep dividing by the smallest prime: 60 = 2 × 30, then 30 = 2 × 15, and 15 = 3 × 5. All factors are primes, so the prime factorization is 2^2 × 3 × 5. This form has every factor prime and cannot be simplified further. Other expressions mix in composite numbers like 4, 15, 6, or 10, which aren’t prime, so they aren’t the prime factorization even though their product is 60.