Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 3,961,980?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 11 x 23 x 29
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 11, 23, 29 }
  • Written in exponential form: 22 x 33 x 51 x 111 x 231 x 291

Why is the prime factorization of 3,961,980 written as 22 x 33 x 51 x 111 x 231 x 291?

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 3,961,980

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 3,961,980 by 2

3,961,980 ÷ 2 = 1,980,990 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,980,990 ÷ 2 = 990,495 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
990,495 ÷ 2 = 495,247.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
990,495 ÷ 3 = 330,165 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
330,165 ÷ 3 = 110,055 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
110,055 ÷ 3 = 36,685 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
36,685 ÷ 3 = 12,228.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
36,685 ÷ 5 = 7,337 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
7,337 ÷ 5 = 1,467.4 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
7,337 ÷ 7 = 1,048.1429 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
7,337 ÷ 11 = 667 - No remainder! 11 is one of the factors!
667 ÷ 11 = 60.6364 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 11 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
667 ÷ 13 = 51.3077 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
667 ÷ 17 = 39.2353 - This has a remainder. 17 is not a factor.
667 ÷ 19 = 35.1053 - This has a remainder. 19 is not a factor.
667 ÷ 23 = 29 - No remainder! 23 is one of the factors!
29 ÷ 23 = 1.2609 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 23 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
29 ÷ 29 = 1 - No remainder! 29 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 3,961,980. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 11 x 23 x 29 = 3,961,980. It can also be written in exponential form as 22 x 33 x 51 x 111 x 231 x 291.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 3,961,980.

3,961,980
Factor Arrows
21,980,990
Factor Arrows
2990,495
Factor Arrows
3330,165
Factor Arrows
3110,055
Factor Arrows
336,685
Factor Arrows
57,337
Factor Arrows
11667
Factor Arrows
2329

More Prime Factorization Examples

3,961,9783,961,9793,961,9813,961,982
21 x 671 x 29,567171 x 565,99713,961,981121 x 1,980,9911

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