Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 250,002,312?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 7 x 7 x 212,587
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 3, 7, 7, 212,587 }
  • Written in exponential form: 23 x 31 x 72 x 212,5871

Why is the prime factorization of 250,002,312 written as 23 x 31 x 72 x 212,5871?

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 250,002,312

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 250,002,312 by 2

250,002,312 ÷ 2 = 125,001,156 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
125,001,156 ÷ 2 = 62,500,578 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
62,500,578 ÷ 2 = 31,250,289 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
31,250,289 ÷ 2 = 15,625,144.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
31,250,289 ÷ 3 = 10,416,763 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
10,416,763 ÷ 3 = 3,472,254.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
10,416,763 ÷ 5 = 2,083,352.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
10,416,763 ÷ 7 = 1,488,109 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
1,488,109 ÷ 7 = 212,587 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
212,587 ÷ 7 = 30,369.5714 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 7 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
212,587 ÷ 11 = 19,326.0909 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
212,587 ÷ 13 = 16,352.8462 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
212,587 ÷ 17 = 12,505.1176 - This has a remainder. 17 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
212,587 ÷ 212,587 = 1 - No remainder! 212,587 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 250,002,312. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 7 x 7 x 212,587 = 250,002,312. It can also be written in exponential form as 23 x 31 x 72 x 212,5871.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 250,002,312.

250,002,312
Factor Arrows
2125,001,156
Factor Arrows
262,500,578
Factor Arrows
231,250,289
Factor Arrows
310,416,763
Factor Arrows
71,488,109
Factor Arrows
7212,587

More Prime Factorization Examples

250,002,310250,002,311250,002,313250,002,314
21 x 51 x 25,000,2311131 x 3491 x 55,1031111 x 22,727,483121 x 2411 x 3311 x 1,5671

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