A prime is a number that is greater than 1 and divisible only by itself and 1 (e.g. 2, 3, 5, 7, 11,...) Write the 72 as a multiple of a number and further break the numbers down until you express it in the simplest factors 72=36×2 72=6×6×2(36=6×6) 72=3×2×3×2×2(6=3×2) Since its in the simplest form, express them as powers Applying am×an=am+n 3×2×3×2×2=2×2×2×3×3 Every number is raised to the power 1 which is not written. Thus a=a1 ⇒2=21,3=31 ⇒2×2×2×3×3=21×21×21×31×31 21×21×21×31×31=21+1+1×31+1=23×32