Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 120,588,628?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 113 x 431 x 619
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 113, 431, 619 }
  • Written in exponential form: 22 x 1131 x 4311 x 6191

Why is the prime factorization of 120,588,628 written as 22 x 1131 x 4311 x 6191?

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 120,588,628

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 120,588,628 by 2

120,588,628 ÷ 2 = 60,294,314 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
60,294,314 ÷ 2 = 30,147,157 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
30,147,157 ÷ 2 = 15,073,578.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
30,147,157 ÷ 3 = 10,049,052.3333 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
30,147,157 ÷ 5 = 6,029,431.4 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
30,147,157 ÷ 7 = 4,306,736.7143 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
30,147,157 ÷ 113 = 266,789 - No remainder! 113 is one of the factors!
266,789 ÷ 113 = 2,360.9646 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 113 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
266,789 ÷ 127 = 2,100.7008 - This has a remainder. 127 is not a factor.
266,789 ÷ 131 = 2,036.5573 - This has a remainder. 131 is not a factor.
266,789 ÷ 137 = 1,947.365 - This has a remainder. 137 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
266,789 ÷ 431 = 619 - No remainder! 431 is one of the factors!
619 ÷ 431 = 1.4362 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 431 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
619 ÷ 433 = 1.4296 - This has a remainder. 433 is not a factor.
619 ÷ 439 = 1.41 - This has a remainder. 439 is not a factor.
619 ÷ 443 = 1.3973 - This has a remainder. 443 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
619 ÷ 619 = 1 - No remainder! 619 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 120,588,628. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 113 x 431 x 619 = 120,588,628. It can also be written in exponential form as 22 x 1131 x 4311 x 6191.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 120,588,628.

120,588,628
Factor Arrows
260,294,314
Factor Arrows
230,147,157
Factor Arrows
113266,789
Factor Arrows
431619

More Prime Factorization Examples

120,588,626120,588,627120,588,629120,588,630
21 x 411 x 2771 x 5,309131 x 731 x 1991 x 2,767171 x 2,6631 x 6,469121 x 31 x 51 x 191 x 211,5591

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