Prime number is a number that is divisible only by itself and 1 (e.g. 2,3,5,7,11 ) To express a number as a product of prime factors express the number as a multiple of prime numbers and simplify in a form of indexes 108=2×54 108=2×2×27 108=2×2×3×9 108=2×2×3×3×3 Now apply the law of indexes am×an=am+n Thus if the bases are the same and are multiplying, you can add the powers a=a1 Thus every number is raised to the power 1 108=2×2×3×3×3=21×21×31×31×31 108=21+1×31+1+1 108=22×33