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Matchswatch asks what the prime factors of 80 are in ascending order, so I type
2 2 2 2 5

It tells me I'm wrong?
Should this be flagged as an educational crime???

Scroll to see replies

No
No
(edited 3 years ago)
Reply 3
Original post by tinygirl96
No

Why Not?
Reply 4
Original post by GabiAbi84
No

Why not?
Original post by StormCaster
Why not?


Read the question again
Reply 6
Original post by GabiAbi84
Read the question again

If you have a suggestion please make it, the question is too simple to read again.
Original post by StormCaster
If you have a suggestion please make it, the question is too simple to read again.


My suggestion was to re-read the question as you haven’t answered the one you have written in the original post correctly.
(edited 3 years ago)
Reply 8
Original post by GabiAbi84
My suggestion was to re-read the question as you haven’t answered it correctly.

I have tried 2*2*2*2*5 , 2^4 *4, 2^4 * 5^1, I tried getting up on the table and singing the answer... Do you have any suggestions which don't imply i have not read the question>???
Original post by StormCaster
I have tried 2*2*2*2*5 , 2^4 *4, 2^4 * 5^1, I tried getting up on the table and singing the answer... Do you have any suggestions which don't imply i have not read the question>???


The question you have stated is what are the prime factors not prime factorisation
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by GabiAbi84
The question is what are the prime factors not prime factorisation

Thank you. The question is literally...

Express 80 as the product of its prime factors.
Write the prime factors in ascending order.

Thank you for your suggestions so far. I am at a loss to understand what it is asking me to do.

PS I am a researcher in Quantum statistics. My daughter asked me to look at this.
Original post by StormCaster
Thank you. The question is literally...

Express 80 as the product of its prime factors.
Write the prime factors in ascending order.

Thank you for your suggestions so far. I am at a loss to understand what it is asking me to do.

PS I am a researcher in Quantum statistics. My daughter asked me to look at this.


You are giving the answer as the factorisation -it just wants the factors on their own.
So instead of 2 2 2 2 5
It would just be 2 5


Perhaps-I just read the question you typed out and it does seem to be asking for the factorisation...
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by GabiAbi84
You are giving the answer as the factorisation -it just wants the factors on their own.
So instead of 2 2 2 2 5
It would just be 2 5

(It possibly includes 1 but don’t know if they discount 1 or not cos sometimes it’s a prime number and sometimes it’s not)

Thank you for your reply...

I've tried that, just typing the factors but still no go. I've done things with brackets, indices, spaces, I even considered inputting using LaTex.... I wish I could show you a screenshot, It really is most perplexing.

Also, You have been very helpful, thank you.
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by StormCaster
Thank you for your reply...

I've tried that, just typing the factors but still no go. I've done things with brackets, indices, spaces, I even considered inputting using LaTex.... I wish I could show you a screenshot, It really is most perplexing.

Also, You have been very helpful, thank you.


Sounds totally frustrating!
are you using * or X ?

You can add a screenshot to the post if it would help?
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by GabiAbi84
Sounds totally frustrating!
are you using * or X ?

You can add a screenshot to the post if it would help?

Screenshot 2020-12-03 004207.png

Here is the screen shot...
Original post by StormCaster
Screenshot 2020-12-03 004207.png

Here is the screen shot...


Have you tried adding =80?

Or 80= 2*2*2*2*5
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by StormCaster
Screenshot 2020-12-03 004207.png

Here is the screen shot...



and another that says its wrong...

Screenshot 2020-12-03 004435.png


Original post by GabiAbi84
Have you tried adding =80?

I will try both of your suggestions X and the =80 thing... Thanks again... back in a tick.
Original post by StormCaster
I will try both of your suggestions X and the =80 thing... Thanks again... back in a tick.

Ta Daaaa! Thank you so much. It uses x for multiplication!

This is all very reasonable I suppose, but I have been writing FORTRAN programs for 30 years!

You are my savior, I would never have seen that in a million years.

I am at your disposal if you require assistance with anything math or physics like.
Original post by StormCaster
Ta Daaaa! Thank you so much. It uses x for multiplication!

This is all very reasonable I suppose, but I have been writing FORTRAN programs for 30 years!

You are my savior, I would never have seen that in a million years.

I am at your disposal if you require assistance with anything math or physics like.


Woohoo!!! Ive seen others having similar issues so you are not alone.
Original post by GabiAbi84
Woohoo!!! Ive seen others having similar issues so you are not alone.

Would it be too much to bother you with one more similar issue on Mathswatch?

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