Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 121,502,543?

Why is the prime factorization of 121,502,543 written as 449¹ x 461¹ x 587¹?

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 121,502,543

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.

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

Let's start by dividing 121,502,543 by 2

121,502,543 ÷ 2 = 60,751,271.5 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
121,502,543 ÷ 3 = 40,500,847.6667 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
121,502,543 ÷ 5 = 24,300,508.6 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
121,502,543 ÷ 449 = 270,607 - No remainder! 449 is one of the factors!
270,607 ÷ 449 = 602.6882 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 449 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
270,607 ÷ 457 = 592.1379 - This has a remainder. 457 is not a factor.
270,607 ÷ 461 = 587 - No remainder! 461 is one of the factors!
587 ÷ 461 = 1.2733 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 461 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
587 ÷ 463 = 1.2678 - This has a remainder. 463 is not a factor.
587 ÷ 467 = 1.257 - This has a remainder. 467 is not a factor.
587 ÷ 479 = 1.2255 - This has a remainder. 479 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
587 ÷ 587 = 1 - No remainder! 587 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 121,502,543. If we put all of it together we have the factors 449 x 461 x 587 = 121,502,543. It can also be written in exponential form as 449¹ x 461¹ x 587¹.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 121,502,543.

	121,502,543
449		270,607
	461		587

More Prime Factorization Examples

Try the factor calculator