Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 3,427,488?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3,967
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3,967 }
  • Written in exponential form: 25 x 33 x 3,9671

Why is the prime factorization of 3,427,488 written as 25 x 33 x 3,9671?

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 3,427,488

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 3,427,488 by 2

3,427,488 ÷ 2 = 1,713,744 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,713,744 ÷ 2 = 856,872 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
856,872 ÷ 2 = 428,436 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
428,436 ÷ 2 = 214,218 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
214,218 ÷ 2 = 107,109 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
107,109 ÷ 2 = 53,554.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
107,109 ÷ 3 = 35,703 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
35,703 ÷ 3 = 11,901 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
11,901 ÷ 3 = 3,967 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
3,967 ÷ 3 = 1,322.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
3,967 ÷ 5 = 793.4 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
3,967 ÷ 7 = 566.7143 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
3,967 ÷ 11 = 360.6364 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
3,967 ÷ 3,967 = 1 - No remainder! 3,967 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 3,427,488. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3,967 = 3,427,488. It can also be written in exponential form as 25 x 33 x 3,9671.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 3,427,488.

3,427,488
Factor Arrows
21,713,744
Factor Arrows
2856,872
Factor Arrows
2428,436
Factor Arrows
2214,218
Factor Arrows
2107,109
Factor Arrows
335,703
Factor Arrows
311,901
Factor Arrows
33,967

More Prime Factorization Examples

3,427,4863,427,4873,427,4893,427,490
21 x 191 x 90,197171 x 431 x 591 x 1931132 x 171 x 1,193121 x 51 x 111 x 31,1591

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