Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 16,910,488?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 7 x 7 x 179 x 241
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 7, 7, 179, 241 }
  • Written in exponential form: 23 x 72 x 1791 x 2411

Why is the prime factorization of 16,910,488 written as 23 x 72 x 1791 x 2411?

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 16,910,488

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 16,910,488 by 2

16,910,488 ÷ 2 = 8,455,244 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
8,455,244 ÷ 2 = 4,227,622 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
4,227,622 ÷ 2 = 2,113,811 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
2,113,811 ÷ 2 = 1,056,905.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
2,113,811 ÷ 3 = 704,603.6667 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
2,113,811 ÷ 5 = 422,762.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
2,113,811 ÷ 7 = 301,973 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
301,973 ÷ 7 = 43,139 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
43,139 ÷ 7 = 6,162.7143 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 7 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
43,139 ÷ 11 = 3,921.7273 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
43,139 ÷ 13 = 3,318.3846 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
43,139 ÷ 17 = 2,537.5882 - This has a remainder. 17 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
43,139 ÷ 179 = 241 - No remainder! 179 is one of the factors!
241 ÷ 179 = 1.3464 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 179 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
241 ÷ 181 = 1.3315 - This has a remainder. 181 is not a factor.
241 ÷ 191 = 1.2618 - This has a remainder. 191 is not a factor.
241 ÷ 193 = 1.2487 - This has a remainder. 193 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
241 ÷ 241 = 1 - No remainder! 241 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 16,910,488. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 7 x 7 x 179 x 241 = 16,910,488. It can also be written in exponential form as 23 x 72 x 1791 x 2411.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 16,910,488.

16,910,488
Factor Arrows
28,455,244
Factor Arrows
24,227,622
Factor Arrows
22,113,811
Factor Arrows
7301,973
Factor Arrows
743,139
Factor Arrows
179241

More Prime Factorization Examples

16,910,48616,910,48716,910,48916,910,490
21 x 8,455,243132 x 111 x 170,813116,910,489121 x 31 x 51 x 1511 x 3,7331

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