Find the number of prime factors of 144.Options1 2   3 4

The prime factorization of 144 is 2^4 * 3^2.

Step 1: Start by dividing the number by the smallest prime number, which is 2. 144 divided by 2 is 72.

Step 2: Continue this process. 72 divided by 2 is 36. 36 divided by 2 is 18. 18 divided by 2 is 9.

Step 3: Now, 9 cannot be divided evenly by 2, so we move on to the next prime number, which is 3. 9 divided by 3 is 3. 3 divided by 3 is 1.

Step 4: Once we reach 1, we have found all the prime factors.

So, the prime factors of 144 are 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, and 3.

Therefore, the number of prime factors of 144 is 6.

So, none of the options 1, 2, 3, 4 is correct.