Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 201,053,124?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 503 x 3,701
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 503, 3,701 }
  • Written in exponential form: 22 x 33 x 5031 x 3,7011

Why is the prime factorization of 201,053,124 written as 22 x 33 x 5031 x 3,7011?

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 201,053,124

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 201,053,124 by 2

201,053,124 ÷ 2 = 100,526,562 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
100,526,562 ÷ 2 = 50,263,281 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
50,263,281 ÷ 2 = 25,131,640.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
50,263,281 ÷ 3 = 16,754,427 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
16,754,427 ÷ 3 = 5,584,809 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
5,584,809 ÷ 3 = 1,861,603 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
1,861,603 ÷ 3 = 620,534.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,861,603 ÷ 5 = 372,320.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
1,861,603 ÷ 7 = 265,943.2857 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
1,861,603 ÷ 11 = 169,236.6364 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
1,861,603 ÷ 503 = 3,701 - No remainder! 503 is one of the factors!
3,701 ÷ 503 = 7.3579 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 503 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
3,701 ÷ 509 = 7.2711 - This has a remainder. 509 is not a factor.
3,701 ÷ 521 = 7.1036 - This has a remainder. 521 is not a factor.
3,701 ÷ 523 = 7.0765 - This has a remainder. 523 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
3,701 ÷ 3,701 = 1 - No remainder! 3,701 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 201,053,124. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 503 x 3,701 = 201,053,124. It can also be written in exponential form as 22 x 33 x 5031 x 3,7011.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 201,053,124.

201,053,124
Factor Arrows
2100,526,562
Factor Arrows
250,263,281
Factor Arrows
316,754,427
Factor Arrows
35,584,809
Factor Arrows
31,861,603
Factor Arrows
5033,701

More Prime Factorization Examples

201,053,122201,053,123201,053,125201,053,126
21 x 431 x 471 x 49,74115,3511 x 37,573155 x 72 x 131 x 101121 x 100,526,5631

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