Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 3,235,960?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 7 x 7 x 13 x 127
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 5, 7, 7, 13, 127 }
  • Written in exponential form: 23 x 51 x 72 x 131 x 1271

Why is the prime factorization of 3,235,960 written as 23 x 51 x 72 x 131 x 1271?

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 3,235,960

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 3,235,960 by 2

3,235,960 ÷ 2 = 1,617,980 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,617,980 ÷ 2 = 808,990 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
808,990 ÷ 2 = 404,495 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
404,495 ÷ 2 = 202,247.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
404,495 ÷ 3 = 134,831.6667 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
404,495 ÷ 5 = 80,899 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
80,899 ÷ 5 = 16,179.8 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
80,899 ÷ 7 = 11,557 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
11,557 ÷ 7 = 1,651 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
1,651 ÷ 7 = 235.8571 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 7 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,651 ÷ 11 = 150.0909 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
1,651 ÷ 13 = 127 - No remainder! 13 is one of the factors!
127 ÷ 13 = 9.7692 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 13 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
127 ÷ 17 = 7.4706 - This has a remainder. 17 is not a factor.
127 ÷ 19 = 6.6842 - This has a remainder. 19 is not a factor.
127 ÷ 23 = 5.5217 - This has a remainder. 23 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
127 ÷ 127 = 1 - No remainder! 127 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 3,235,960. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 7 x 7 x 13 x 127 = 3,235,960. It can also be written in exponential form as 23 x 51 x 72 x 131 x 1271.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 3,235,960.

3,235,960
Factor Arrows
21,617,980
Factor Arrows
2808,990
Factor Arrows
2404,495
Factor Arrows
580,899
Factor Arrows
711,557
Factor Arrows
71,651
Factor Arrows
13127

More Prime Factorization Examples

3,235,9583,235,9593,235,9613,235,962
21 x 111 x 147,089132 x 1671 x 2,15313,235,961121 x 31 x 231 x 1311 x 1791

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