Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 11,237,232?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 193 x 1,213
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 193, 1,213 }
  • Written in exponential form: 24 x 31 x 1931 x 1,2131

Why is the prime factorization of 11,237,232 written as 24 x 31 x 1931 x 1,2131?

What is prime factorization?

Prime factorization or prime factor decomposition is the process of finding which prime numbers can be multiplied together to make the original number.

Finding the prime factors of 11,237,232

To find the prime factors, you start by dividing the number by the first prime number, which is 2. If there is not a remainder, meaning you can divide evenly, then 2 is a factor of the number. Continue dividing by 2 until you cannot divide evenly anymore. Write down how many 2's you were able to divide by evenly. Now try dividing by the next prime factor, which is 3. The goal is to get to a quotient of 1.

If it doesn't make sense yet, let's try it...

Here are the first several prime factors: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29...

Let's start by dividing 11,237,232 by 2

11,237,232 ÷ 2 = 5,618,616 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
5,618,616 ÷ 2 = 2,809,308 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
2,809,308 ÷ 2 = 1,404,654 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,404,654 ÷ 2 = 702,327 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
702,327 ÷ 2 = 351,163.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
702,327 ÷ 3 = 234,109 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
234,109 ÷ 3 = 78,036.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
234,109 ÷ 5 = 46,821.8 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
234,109 ÷ 7 = 33,444.1429 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
234,109 ÷ 11 = 21,282.6364 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
234,109 ÷ 193 = 1,213 - No remainder! 193 is one of the factors!
1,213 ÷ 193 = 6.285 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 193 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,213 ÷ 197 = 6.1574 - This has a remainder. 197 is not a factor.
1,213 ÷ 199 = 6.0955 - This has a remainder. 199 is not a factor.
1,213 ÷ 211 = 5.7488 - This has a remainder. 211 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
1,213 ÷ 1,213 = 1 - No remainder! 1,213 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 11,237,232. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 193 x 1,213 = 11,237,232. It can also be written in exponential form as 24 x 31 x 1931 x 1,2131.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 11,237,232.

11,237,232
Factor Arrows
25,618,616
Factor Arrows
22,809,308
Factor Arrows
21,404,654
Factor Arrows
2702,327
Factor Arrows
3234,109
Factor Arrows
1931,213

More Prime Factorization Examples

11,237,23011,237,23111,237,23311,237,234
21 x 51 x 471 x 23,909111,237,231171 x 371 x 431 x 1,009121 x 7391 x 7,6031

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