In the previous page, we discovered that we can only form [b]two rectangles[/b] using 6 unit squares. These are the 1 × 6 and 2 × 3 rectangles. Using 5 unit squares, we also discovered that we can only form[b] one rectangle[/b], the 1 × 5 rectangle.
1.) We can write the math sentence[b] 2 [/b][b]× 3 = 6[/b] where 6 is the number of unit squares used to form the rectangle, 2 is its width, and 3 is its length. What is another term that best describes 6 in relation to the rectangle?
We can also think of[b] 2 [/b][b]× 3 = 6 [/b]as a multiplication sentence. You have learned that in this sentence, 6 is the [b]product[/b] and 2 and 3 are the [b]factors[/b]. We call 2 × 3 a [b][color=#0000ff]factorization[/color][/b] of 6. Just like the rectangles, 2 × 3 and 3 × 2 are counted as[b] one factorization[/b].[br][br][b][color=#ff0000]NOTE: [/color][/b]Factorizations can also have more than two numbers. For example, 18 can be factorized as 3 × 3 × 2. But in this lesson, we will limit our discussion to factorizations that use two numbers.
What are the other factorizations of 6?
3.) Which of the following are factors of 6?