To express 252 as a product of its prime factors, we use the method of prime factorization.

1. Start by dividing 252 by the smallest prime number, 2: $252 \div 2 = 126$
2. Divide 126 by 2 again: $126 \div 2 = 63$
3. Now, 63 is not divisible by 2, so divide it by the next smallest prime, which is 3: $63 \div 3 = 21$
4. Divide 21 by 3 again: $21 \div 3 = 7$
5. Finally, 7 is already a prime number, so it remains as is.

Thus, the prime factorization of 252 is: $252 = 2^2 \times 3^2 \times 7$

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are some related questions for practice:

1. What is the prime factorization of 360?
2. How would you find the prime factors of 144?
3. What are the prime factors of 105?
4. How can you determine if a number is prime?
5. What is the greatest common divisor of 252 and 180?

Tip: When doing prime factorization, always start with the smallest prime (2) and continue dividing by increasing primes (3, 5, 7, etc.).