48:
48/2 = 24
24/2 = 12
12/2 = 6
6/2 = 3
We can not divide by 2, but we can divide by 3:
3/3 = 1
That's as far as we go. So I divided by 2 four times and once by 3:
Therefore:
48 = 2 2 2 2 3
Now we take 72
72 / 2 = 36
36 / 2 = 18
18 / 2 = 9
Nine is not divisible by 2, but it is by 3, so:
9 / 3 = 3
3 / 3 = 1
That's as far as we can go.
I divided by 2 three times and by 3 two times. Therefore
72 = 2 2 2 3 3
So, taking the bigger picture:
4872=2∗2∗2∗2∗32∗2∗2∗3∗3
Now three two's cancel out and one three cancels out and we get
2\3
answer=2\3
