1. The problem is to express 1080 as a product of its prime factors using the prime factor tree method. 2. Prime factorization means breaking down a number into the product of prime numbers only. 3. Start by dividing 1080 by the smallest prime number 2: $$1080 \div 2 = 540$$ 4. Continue dividing by 2: $$540 \div 2 = 270$$ 5. Divide by 2 again: $$270 \div 2 = 135$$ 6. Since 135 is not divisible by 2, try the next prime number 3: $$135 \div 3 = 45$$ 7. Divide 45 by 3: $$45 \div 3 = 15$$ 8. Divide 15 by 3: $$15 \div 3 = 5$$ 9. 5 is a prime number, so the factorization ends here. 10. Collecting all prime factors, we have: $$1080 = 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 5$$ or using exponents: $$1080 = 2^{3} \times 3^{3} \times 5$$