Q: What are the prime factors of the number 72,720,540?

 A: 2, 3, 5, 37, 61, 179

Why are those the prime factors of the number 72,720,540?

Prime factors are the prime numbers that can be multipled together to equal the original number. You find the factors by dividing by prime numbers. It is best shown by creating a Factor Tree.

Factor Tree for the number 72,720,540

72,720,540
Factor Arrows
236,360,270
Factor Arrows
218,180,135
Factor Arrows
36,060,045
Factor Arrows
32,020,015
Factor Arrows
5404,003
Factor Arrows
3710,919
Factor Arrows
61179

The numbers in bold above are the prime factors. If there are multiples, you only count them one time. This leads us to our prime factors of:

2, 3, 5, 37, 61, 179

We can check our work by multiplying all of the prime factors together: 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 37 x 61 x 179 = 72,720,540

This can also be written as 22 x 32 x 51 x 371 x 611 x 1791 = 72,720,540

If you would like to know more, or need additional explanation, please review our prime factorization explanation.


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