MEGA Elementary Education Multi-Content Practice Test

Which instructional method promotes understanding of prime numbers?

1. Repeated addition

2. Factor trees

3. Equal grouping

4. Fact families

The correct answer is: Factor trees

The option that promotes understanding of prime numbers is factor trees. This method is beneficial because it visually illustrates the process of breaking down numbers into their prime factors. By using factor trees, students can see how composite numbers are constructed from prime numbers, reinforcing the definition of a prime number as a whole number greater than one that has no positive divisors other than one and itself. When students engage with factor trees, they can explore and understand how numbers can be decomposed into smaller, indivisible components, which are the prime numbers. This hands-on approach allows for a deeper conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization, making it easier for students to identify prime numbers and understand their significance in number theory. The other methods may not provide the same clarity or relevance. For instance, repeated addition is more applicable to understanding multiplication and basic arithmetic concepts rather than primes. Equal grouping focuses on divisibility rather than the unique properties of prime numbers, and fact families relate more to relationships between numbers in addition and subtraction rather than prime factorization. Thus, factor trees emerge as the most effective strategy for promoting an understanding of prime numbers.