Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 152,415,432?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 13 x 37 x 163
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 13, 37, 163 }
  • Written in exponential form: 23 x 35 x 131 x 371 x 1631

Why is the prime factorization of 152,415,432 written as 23 x 35 x 131 x 371 x 1631?

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 152,415,432

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 152,415,432 by 2

152,415,432 ÷ 2 = 76,207,716 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
76,207,716 ÷ 2 = 38,103,858 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
38,103,858 ÷ 2 = 19,051,929 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
19,051,929 ÷ 2 = 9,525,964.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
19,051,929 ÷ 3 = 6,350,643 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
6,350,643 ÷ 3 = 2,116,881 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
2,116,881 ÷ 3 = 705,627 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
705,627 ÷ 3 = 235,209 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
235,209 ÷ 3 = 78,403 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
78,403 ÷ 3 = 26,134.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
78,403 ÷ 5 = 15,680.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
78,403 ÷ 7 = 11,200.4286 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
78,403 ÷ 11 = 7,127.5455 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
78,403 ÷ 13 = 6,031 - No remainder! 13 is one of the factors!
6,031 ÷ 13 = 463.9231 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 13 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
6,031 ÷ 17 = 354.7647 - This has a remainder. 17 is not a factor.
6,031 ÷ 19 = 317.4211 - This has a remainder. 19 is not a factor.
6,031 ÷ 23 = 262.2174 - This has a remainder. 23 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
6,031 ÷ 37 = 163 - No remainder! 37 is one of the factors!
163 ÷ 37 = 4.4054 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 37 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
163 ÷ 41 = 3.9756 - This has a remainder. 41 is not a factor.
163 ÷ 43 = 3.7907 - This has a remainder. 43 is not a factor.
163 ÷ 47 = 3.4681 - This has a remainder. 47 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
163 ÷ 163 = 1 - No remainder! 163 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 152,415,432. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 13 x 37 x 163 = 152,415,432. It can also be written in exponential form as 23 x 35 x 131 x 371 x 1631.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 152,415,432.

152,415,432
Factor Arrows
276,207,716
Factor Arrows
238,103,858
Factor Arrows
219,051,929
Factor Arrows
36,350,643
Factor Arrows
32,116,881
Factor Arrows
3705,627
Factor Arrows
3235,209
Factor Arrows
378,403
Factor Arrows
136,031
Factor Arrows
37163

More Prime Factorization Examples

152,415,430152,415,431152,415,433152,415,434
21 x 51 x 15,241,543172 x 3,110,51914631 x 329,191121 x 231 x 6431 x 5,1531

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