Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 163,252,632?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 17 x 17 x 23,537
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 3, 17, 17, 23,537 }
  • Written in exponential form: 23 x 31 x 172 x 23,5371

Why is the prime factorization of 163,252,632 written as 23 x 31 x 172 x 23,5371?

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 163,252,632

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 163,252,632 by 2

163,252,632 ÷ 2 = 81,626,316 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
81,626,316 ÷ 2 = 40,813,158 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
40,813,158 ÷ 2 = 20,406,579 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
20,406,579 ÷ 2 = 10,203,289.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
20,406,579 ÷ 3 = 6,802,193 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
6,802,193 ÷ 3 = 2,267,397.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
6,802,193 ÷ 5 = 1,360,438.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
6,802,193 ÷ 7 = 971,741.8571 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
6,802,193 ÷ 11 = 618,381.1818 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
6,802,193 ÷ 17 = 400,129 - No remainder! 17 is one of the factors!
400,129 ÷ 17 = 23,537 - No remainder! 17 is one of the factors!
23,537 ÷ 17 = 1,384.5294 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 17 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
23,537 ÷ 19 = 1,238.7895 - This has a remainder. 19 is not a factor.
23,537 ÷ 23 = 1,023.3478 - This has a remainder. 23 is not a factor.
23,537 ÷ 29 = 811.6207 - This has a remainder. 29 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
23,537 ÷ 23,537 = 1 - No remainder! 23,537 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 163,252,632. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 17 x 17 x 23,537 = 163,252,632. It can also be written in exponential form as 23 x 31 x 172 x 23,5371.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 163,252,632.

163,252,632
Factor Arrows
281,626,316
Factor Arrows
240,813,158
Factor Arrows
220,406,579
Factor Arrows
36,802,193
Factor Arrows
17400,129
Factor Arrows
1723,537

More Prime Factorization Examples

163,252,630163,252,631163,252,633163,252,634
21 x 51 x 1,3191 x 12,3771791 x 1031 x 20,06312,9391 x 55,547121 x 311 x 2,633,1071

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