Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 327,888?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 11 x 23
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 11, 23 }
  • Written in exponential form: 24 x 34 x 111 x 231

Why is the prime factorization of 327,888 written as 24 x 34 x 111 x 231?

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 327,888

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 327,888 by 2

327,888 ÷ 2 = 163,944 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
163,944 ÷ 2 = 81,972 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
81,972 ÷ 2 = 40,986 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
40,986 ÷ 2 = 20,493 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
20,493 ÷ 2 = 10,246.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
20,493 ÷ 3 = 6,831 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
6,831 ÷ 3 = 2,277 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
2,277 ÷ 3 = 759 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
759 ÷ 3 = 253 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
253 ÷ 3 = 84.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
253 ÷ 5 = 50.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
253 ÷ 7 = 36.1429 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
253 ÷ 11 = 23 - No remainder! 11 is one of the factors!
23 ÷ 11 = 2.0909 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 11 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
23 ÷ 13 = 1.7692 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
23 ÷ 17 = 1.3529 - This has a remainder. 17 is not a factor.
23 ÷ 19 = 1.2105 - This has a remainder. 19 is not a factor.
23 ÷ 23 = 1 - No remainder! 23 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 327,888. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 11 x 23 = 327,888. It can also be written in exponential form as 24 x 34 x 111 x 231.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 327,888.

327,888
Factor Arrows
2163,944
Factor Arrows
281,972
Factor Arrows
240,986
Factor Arrows
220,493
Factor Arrows
36,831
Factor Arrows
32,277
Factor Arrows
3759
Factor Arrows
3253
Factor Arrows
1123

More Prime Factorization Examples

327,886327,887327,889327,890
21 x 131 x 12,611171 x 311 x 1,5111327,889121 x 51 x 32,7891

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