Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 298,110?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 3 x 5 x 19 x 523
    • or also written as { 2, 3, 5, 19, 523 }
  • Written in exponential form: 21 x 31 x 51 x 191 x 5231

Why is the prime factorization of 298,110 written as 21 x 31 x 51 x 191 x 5231?

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 298,110

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 298,110 by 2

298,110 ÷ 2 = 149,055 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
149,055 ÷ 2 = 74,527.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
149,055 ÷ 3 = 49,685 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
49,685 ÷ 3 = 16,561.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
49,685 ÷ 5 = 9,937 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
9,937 ÷ 5 = 1,987.4 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
9,937 ÷ 7 = 1,419.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
9,937 ÷ 11 = 903.3636 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
9,937 ÷ 13 = 764.3846 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
9,937 ÷ 19 = 523 - No remainder! 19 is one of the factors!
523 ÷ 19 = 27.5263 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 19 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
523 ÷ 23 = 22.7391 - This has a remainder. 23 is not a factor.
523 ÷ 29 = 18.0345 - This has a remainder. 29 is not a factor.
523 ÷ 31 = 16.871 - This has a remainder. 31 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
523 ÷ 523 = 1 - No remainder! 523 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 298,110. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 3 x 5 x 19 x 523 = 298,110. It can also be written in exponential form as 21 x 31 x 51 x 191 x 5231.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 298,110.

298,110
Factor Arrows
2149,055
Factor Arrows
349,685
Factor Arrows
59,937
Factor Arrows
19523

More Prime Factorization Examples

298,108298,109298,111298,112
22 x 74,527171 x 371 x 1,1511111 x 411 x 661127 x 171 x 1371

Try the factor calculator

Explore more about the number 298,110:


Ask a Question