Three students need to produce a prime factorization of 48. Donna states that the first factors in the tree should be 6 and 8. Larry states that the first factors in the tree should be 4 and 12. Trish states that the initial factors of 48 do not affect the prime factorization. Explain why Trish is correct. (HELP ME)

Trish is correct because she states 48 and the number 48 does not affect the prime factorization

Step-by-step explanation:

If we start with 6 and 8, we can break 6 up into 2*3 and 8 into 2*2*2, thus getting a prime factorization of 2*2*2*2*3, or 2^4 *3.

If we begin with 4 and 12, 4 breaks into 2*2 and 12 into 2*2*3, so the prime factorization of 48 is still 2^4 *3.

The starting factors do not matter, since the answer comes out to be the same. There is exactly one correct answer- it doesn't matter how it's found.

Hope this helps! :)

Trish is right because i doesn't matter. It eventually simplifies down to 2x2x2x2x3. What ever path u take it will significantly simplify to that so that is correct.

Hope this helps plz hit the crown :D