prime factors are prime numbers that can be multiplied to give the number. to find the prime factors the number is divided by the prime numbers by which the number is divisible.
24 / 3 = 8 8 / 2 = 4 4 / 2 = 2 2 / 2 = 1 24 is divisible by 3 , 2 , 2 and 2. therefore 24 written as a product of its prime factors is 24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3