Answer
$2^{3}\times3^{2}$
Work Step by Step
In order to find the prime factorization of 72, we can try to divide 72 by the first prime, 2.
$72\div2=36$
Try to divide 36 by 2.
$36\div2=18$
Try to divide 18 by 2.
$18\div2=9$
9 cannot be divided by 2, so we divide by the next prime, 3.
$9\div3=3$
3 itself is a prime number, so we cannot simplify any more. The prime factorization of 72 is $2\times2\times2\times3\times3=2^{3}\times3^{2}$.
