Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 18,630,840?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 107 x 1,451
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 107, 1,451 }
  • Written in exponential form: 23 x 31 x 51 x 1071 x 1,4511

Why is the prime factorization of 18,630,840 written as 23 x 31 x 51 x 1071 x 1,4511?

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 18,630,840

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 18,630,840 by 2

18,630,840 ÷ 2 = 9,315,420 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
9,315,420 ÷ 2 = 4,657,710 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
4,657,710 ÷ 2 = 2,328,855 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
2,328,855 ÷ 2 = 1,164,427.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
2,328,855 ÷ 3 = 776,285 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
776,285 ÷ 3 = 258,761.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
776,285 ÷ 5 = 155,257 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
155,257 ÷ 5 = 31,051.4 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
155,257 ÷ 7 = 22,179.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
155,257 ÷ 11 = 14,114.2727 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
155,257 ÷ 13 = 11,942.8462 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
155,257 ÷ 107 = 1,451 - No remainder! 107 is one of the factors!
1,451 ÷ 107 = 13.5607 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 107 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,451 ÷ 109 = 13.3119 - This has a remainder. 109 is not a factor.
1,451 ÷ 113 = 12.8407 - This has a remainder. 113 is not a factor.
1,451 ÷ 127 = 11.4252 - This has a remainder. 127 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
1,451 ÷ 1,451 = 1 - No remainder! 1,451 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 18,630,840. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 107 x 1,451 = 18,630,840. It can also be written in exponential form as 23 x 31 x 51 x 1071 x 1,4511.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 18,630,840.

18,630,840
Factor Arrows
29,315,420
Factor Arrows
24,657,710
Factor Arrows
22,328,855
Factor Arrows
3776,285
Factor Arrows
5155,257
Factor Arrows
1071,451

More Prime Factorization Examples

18,630,83818,630,83918,630,84118,630,842
21 x 9,315,419118,630,8391731 x 255,217121 x 9,315,4211

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