Why I Built This Factor Tree Generator
Hi everyone, I'm Ronit Shill. As a Math Teacher and Coder, I know that Prime Factorization can feel abstract to students. "Why do we need to break numbers down?" It's like finding the atomic structure of a number!
I created this tool because drawing factor trees by hand is messy, and students often run out of space. This generator creates clean, structured trees where students can fill in the branches. It turns a messy process into a neat, logical puzzle.
The "Building Blocks" Analogy
In my classroom, I explain prime numbers like Legos.
🧱 Ronit's Classroom Analogy
"Think of a composite number (like 12) as a Lego castle. You can break it apart into smaller chunks (4 and 3). But 4 can be broken down further (2 and 2). 2 and 3 are the single Lego bricks—they can't be broken anymore. They are the Prime Factors."
How to Use This Generator
1. Easy Mode (Small Numbers)
Start with numbers like 12, 18, 20. These trees are short (2-3 levels). It helps students grasp the concept of "splitting" numbers without getting lost in multiplication facts.
2. Medium Mode (Standard Practice)
Numbers like 48, 56, 64. These require more steps. Students might split 48 into 6×8 or 4×12. This teaches them that any path leads to the same prime factors (Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic).
3. Hard Mode (Big Trees)
Numbers up to 100. This is great for advanced students to practice mental division and organizing their work neatly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Prime Number?
What is a Composite Number?
Future Updates
I'm working on a mode that forces specific branches (e.g., forcing 48 to start with 6×8 vs 2×24) to show different paths.
Happy Factoring!
