Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 42,324,242?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 1,231 x 17,191
    • or also written as { 2, 1,231, 17,191 }
  • Written in exponential form: 21 x 1,2311 x 17,1911

Why is the prime factorization of 42,324,242 written as 21 x 1,2311 x 17,1911?

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 42,324,242

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 42,324,242 by 2

42,324,242 ÷ 2 = 21,162,121 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
21,162,121 ÷ 2 = 10,581,060.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
21,162,121 ÷ 3 = 7,054,040.3333 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
21,162,121 ÷ 5 = 4,232,424.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
21,162,121 ÷ 7 = 3,023,160.1429 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
21,162,121 ÷ 1,231 = 17,191 - No remainder! 1,231 is one of the factors!
17,191 ÷ 1,231 = 13.9651 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 1231 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
17,191 ÷ 1,237 = 13.8973 - This has a remainder. 1,237 is not a factor.
17,191 ÷ 1,249 = 13.7638 - This has a remainder. 1,249 is not a factor.
17,191 ÷ 1,259 = 13.6545 - This has a remainder. 1,259 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
17,191 ÷ 17,191 = 1 - No remainder! 17,191 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 42,324,242. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 1,231 x 17,191 = 42,324,242. It can also be written in exponential form as 21 x 1,2311 x 17,1911.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 42,324,242.

42,324,242
Factor Arrows
221,162,121
Factor Arrows
1,23117,191

More Prime Factorization Examples

42,324,24042,324,24142,324,24342,324,244
24 x 31 x 51 x 72 x 591 x 61142,324,241131 x 131 x 1511 x 7,187122 x 10,581,0611

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