Factors and Prime Factors submitted by: Jeff LeMieux, May 2003 This narrative describes how I use my javascript tool, cataloged in the Math Tools digital library, in the classroom. Course: Math 7 Topic: Resource type: JavaScript Resource location: http://www2.whidbey.net/ohmsmath/webwork/javascript/prfact.htm Math Forum catalogue entry: http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool.html?rc=tool&new_id=794 Story:   Factors and Prime Factors originally started as a way for the teacher to check the students' homework when factors and factoring was introduced. In pre-internet-in-school days it was variously a BASIC program, a compiled BASIC program and a C program. With internet availability it made sense to tie it into lesson plan pages. This seems to be a favorite for students. It serves as a supporter for students to develop divisibility procedures and basic number facts . There is a similar program called Factor Pairs which does exactly as its title implies. It was originally used with a 6th grade program which had an emphasis on factor pairs. 7th graders seem to be able to make the pairings themselves. Factors and Prime Factors provides a natural lead in to a review and/or expansion of exponents and writing numbers with exponents. Other investigations using this script: Predicting prime numbers greater than 100 Determine if there is a pattern to the prime factors in a sequence of numbers(e.g., 1-50) Determine if there is a pattern to the number of factor pairs for a sequence of numbers Investigate the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic Where and how I used this: This program gets used in a multitude of different places. It is included in lessons on factors, factoring, prime numbers and as an adjuct to the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic. Its real advantage lies in allowing students to explore a large set of numbers without having to perform all the repetitive math steps involved. Students must demonstrate an ability to determine factors and prime factors (of smaller numbers) using manual methods before they use this tool. Send comments to Jeff LeMieux at tackweed@whidbey.net Jeff LeMieux May 2003 http://www2.whidbey.net/ohmsmath