Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 3,265,216?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 163 x 313
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 163, 313 }
  • Written in exponential form: 26 x 1631 x 3131

Why is the prime factorization of 3,265,216 written as 26 x 1631 x 3131?

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 3,265,216

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 3,265,216 by 2

3,265,216 ÷ 2 = 1,632,608 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,632,608 ÷ 2 = 816,304 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
816,304 ÷ 2 = 408,152 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
408,152 ÷ 2 = 204,076 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
204,076 ÷ 2 = 102,038 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
102,038 ÷ 2 = 51,019 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
51,019 ÷ 2 = 25,509.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
51,019 ÷ 3 = 17,006.3333 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
51,019 ÷ 5 = 10,203.8 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
51,019 ÷ 7 = 7,288.4286 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
51,019 ÷ 163 = 313 - No remainder! 163 is one of the factors!
313 ÷ 163 = 1.9202 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 163 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
313 ÷ 167 = 1.8743 - This has a remainder. 167 is not a factor.
313 ÷ 173 = 1.8092 - This has a remainder. 173 is not a factor.
313 ÷ 179 = 1.7486 - This has a remainder. 179 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
313 ÷ 313 = 1 - No remainder! 313 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 3,265,216. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 163 x 313 = 3,265,216. It can also be written in exponential form as 26 x 1631 x 3131.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 3,265,216.

3,265,216
Factor Arrows
21,632,608
Factor Arrows
2816,304
Factor Arrows
2408,152
Factor Arrows
2204,076
Factor Arrows
2102,038
Factor Arrows
251,019
Factor Arrows
163313

More Prime Factorization Examples

3,265,2143,265,2153,265,2173,265,218
21 x 971 x 16,831131 x 51 x 217,6811731 x 44,729121 x 33 x 111 x 231 x 2391

Try the factor calculator

Explore more about the number 3,265,216:


Ask a Question