A factor tree is used to find a number's prime factors. Simply put a tree like diagram is constructed to depict the values that are multiplied with each other in order to form that number. These numbers are indicated as leaves shooting off from the original number and the prime numbers that form these leaves are circled. These are the prime factors. Leaves or numbers that can be further broken down are broken down further. These numbers are broken down till one gets the prime factors. For an example we can consider the example of the number thirty six. It can be broken down into its factors of nine and four. The nine can be further divided into three and three and four into two and two.