Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 336,850,128?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 47 x 71 x 701
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 47, 71, 701 }
  • Written in exponential form: 24 x 32 x 471 x 711 x 7011

Why is the prime factorization of 336,850,128 written as 24 x 32 x 471 x 711 x 7011?

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 336,850,128

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 336,850,128 by 2

336,850,128 ÷ 2 = 168,425,064 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
168,425,064 ÷ 2 = 84,212,532 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
84,212,532 ÷ 2 = 42,106,266 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
42,106,266 ÷ 2 = 21,053,133 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
21,053,133 ÷ 2 = 10,526,566.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
21,053,133 ÷ 3 = 7,017,711 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
7,017,711 ÷ 3 = 2,339,237 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
2,339,237 ÷ 3 = 779,745.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
2,339,237 ÷ 5 = 467,847.4 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
2,339,237 ÷ 7 = 334,176.7143 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
2,339,237 ÷ 11 = 212,657.9091 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
2,339,237 ÷ 47 = 49,771 - No remainder! 47 is one of the factors!
49,771 ÷ 47 = 1,058.9574 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 47 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
49,771 ÷ 53 = 939.0755 - This has a remainder. 53 is not a factor.
49,771 ÷ 59 = 843.5763 - This has a remainder. 59 is not a factor.
49,771 ÷ 61 = 815.918 - This has a remainder. 61 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
49,771 ÷ 71 = 701 - No remainder! 71 is one of the factors!
701 ÷ 71 = 9.8732 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 71 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
701 ÷ 73 = 9.6027 - This has a remainder. 73 is not a factor.
701 ÷ 79 = 8.8734 - This has a remainder. 79 is not a factor.
701 ÷ 83 = 8.4458 - This has a remainder. 83 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
701 ÷ 701 = 1 - No remainder! 701 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 336,850,128. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 47 x 71 x 701 = 336,850,128. It can also be written in exponential form as 24 x 32 x 471 x 711 x 7011.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 336,850,128.

336,850,128
Factor Arrows
2168,425,064
Factor Arrows
284,212,532
Factor Arrows
242,106,266
Factor Arrows
221,053,133
Factor Arrows
37,017,711
Factor Arrows
32,339,237
Factor Arrows
4749,771
Factor Arrows
71701

More Prime Factorization Examples

336,850,126336,850,127336,850,129336,850,130
21 x 191 x 8,864,47714491 x 750,223171 x 111 x 4,374,677121 x 51 x 4571 x 73,7091

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