Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 30,467,872?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 37 x 25,733
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 37, 25,733 }
  • Written in exponential form: 25 x 371 x 25,7331

Why is the prime factorization of 30,467,872 written as 25 x 371 x 25,7331?

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 30,467,872

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 30,467,872 by 2

30,467,872 ÷ 2 = 15,233,936 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
15,233,936 ÷ 2 = 7,616,968 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
7,616,968 ÷ 2 = 3,808,484 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
3,808,484 ÷ 2 = 1,904,242 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,904,242 ÷ 2 = 952,121 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
952,121 ÷ 2 = 476,060.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
952,121 ÷ 3 = 317,373.6667 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
952,121 ÷ 5 = 190,424.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
952,121 ÷ 7 = 136,017.2857 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
952,121 ÷ 37 = 25,733 - No remainder! 37 is one of the factors!
25,733 ÷ 37 = 695.4865 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 37 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
25,733 ÷ 41 = 627.6341 - This has a remainder. 41 is not a factor.
25,733 ÷ 43 = 598.4419 - This has a remainder. 43 is not a factor.
25,733 ÷ 47 = 547.5106 - This has a remainder. 47 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
25,733 ÷ 25,733 = 1 - No remainder! 25,733 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 30,467,872. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 37 x 25,733 = 30,467,872. It can also be written in exponential form as 25 x 371 x 25,7331.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 30,467,872.

30,467,872
Factor Arrows
215,233,936
Factor Arrows
27,616,968
Factor Arrows
23,808,484
Factor Arrows
21,904,242
Factor Arrows
2952,121
Factor Arrows
3725,733

More Prime Factorization Examples

30,467,87030,467,87130,467,87330,467,874
21 x 51 x 231 x 132,469132 x 71 x 5631 x 85911,7331 x 17,581121 x 31 x 1511 x 33,6291

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