Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 339,264?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 19 x 31
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 19, 31 }
  • Written in exponential form: 26 x 32 x 191 x 311

Why is the prime factorization of 339,264 written as 26 x 32 x 191 x 311?

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 339,264

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 339,264 by 2

339,264 ÷ 2 = 169,632 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
169,632 ÷ 2 = 84,816 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
84,816 ÷ 2 = 42,408 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
42,408 ÷ 2 = 21,204 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
21,204 ÷ 2 = 10,602 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
10,602 ÷ 2 = 5,301 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
5,301 ÷ 2 = 2,650.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
5,301 ÷ 3 = 1,767 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
1,767 ÷ 3 = 589 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
589 ÷ 3 = 196.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
589 ÷ 5 = 117.8 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
589 ÷ 7 = 84.1429 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
589 ÷ 11 = 53.5455 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
589 ÷ 19 = 31 - No remainder! 19 is one of the factors!
31 ÷ 19 = 1.6316 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 19 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
31 ÷ 23 = 1.3478 - This has a remainder. 23 is not a factor.
31 ÷ 29 = 1.069 - This has a remainder. 29 is not a factor.
31 ÷ 31 = 1 - No remainder! 31 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 339,264. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 19 x 31 = 339,264. It can also be written in exponential form as 26 x 32 x 191 x 311.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 339,264.

339,264
Factor Arrows
2169,632
Factor Arrows
284,816
Factor Arrows
242,408
Factor Arrows
221,204
Factor Arrows
210,602
Factor Arrows
25,301
Factor Arrows
31,767
Factor Arrows
3589
Factor Arrows
1931

More Prime Factorization Examples

339,262339,263339,265339,266
21 x 71 x 111 x 2,2031339,263151 x 67,853121 x 169,6331

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