decomposition into factors
noun phraseUK /ˌdiːkɒmpəˈzɪʃən ˈɪntə ˈfæktəz/
US /ˌdiːkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən ˈɪntə ˈfæktərz/
Breaking a number into smaller numbers that multiply together to make it.
The decomposition into factors of 12 gives 2 times 2 times 3.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In algebra, writing an expression as a product of simpler expressions.
The decomposition into factors of x squared minus 4 gives (x minus 2)(x plus 2).
3. Splitting a whole into parts that, when combined, rebuild the whole.
The teacher explained decomposition into factors using a tower of blocks.
4. A step in problem solving where a large number is broken into multiplicative pieces.
Decomposition into factors made the big multiplication easier to solve.