Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 230,133,429?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 3 x 3 x 31 x 853 x 967
    • or also written as { 3, 3, 31, 853, 967 }
  • Written in exponential form: 32 x 311 x 8531 x 9671

Why is the prime factorization of 230,133,429 written as 32 x 311 x 8531 x 9671?

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 230,133,429

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 230,133,429 by 2

230,133,429 ÷ 2 = 115,066,714.5 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
230,133,429 ÷ 3 = 76,711,143 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
76,711,143 ÷ 3 = 25,570,381 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
25,570,381 ÷ 3 = 8,523,460.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
25,570,381 ÷ 5 = 5,114,076.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
25,570,381 ÷ 7 = 3,652,911.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
25,570,381 ÷ 11 = 2,324,580.0909 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
25,570,381 ÷ 31 = 824,851 - No remainder! 31 is one of the factors!
824,851 ÷ 31 = 26,608.0968 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 31 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
824,851 ÷ 37 = 22,293.2703 - This has a remainder. 37 is not a factor.
824,851 ÷ 41 = 20,118.3171 - This has a remainder. 41 is not a factor.
824,851 ÷ 43 = 19,182.5814 - This has a remainder. 43 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
824,851 ÷ 853 = 967 - No remainder! 853 is one of the factors!
967 ÷ 853 = 1.1336 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 853 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
967 ÷ 857 = 1.1284 - This has a remainder. 857 is not a factor.
967 ÷ 859 = 1.1257 - This has a remainder. 859 is not a factor.
967 ÷ 863 = 1.1205 - This has a remainder. 863 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
967 ÷ 967 = 1 - No remainder! 967 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 230,133,429. If we put all of it together we have the factors 3 x 3 x 31 x 853 x 967 = 230,133,429. It can also be written in exponential form as 32 x 311 x 8531 x 9671.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 230,133,429.

230,133,429
Factor Arrows
376,711,143
Factor Arrows
325,570,381
Factor Arrows
31824,851
Factor Arrows
853967

More Prime Factorization Examples

230,133,427230,133,428230,133,430230,133,431
1131 x 2,036,579122 x 71 x 8,219,051121 x 51 x 1971 x 116,8191111 x 20,921,2211

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