Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 429,600?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 5 x 179
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 179 }
  • Written in exponential form: 25 x 31 x 52 x 1791

Why is the prime factorization of 429,600 written as 25 x 31 x 52 x 1791?

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 429,600

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 429,600 by 2

429,600 ÷ 2 = 214,800 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
214,800 ÷ 2 = 107,400 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
107,400 ÷ 2 = 53,700 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
53,700 ÷ 2 = 26,850 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
26,850 ÷ 2 = 13,425 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
13,425 ÷ 2 = 6,712.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
13,425 ÷ 3 = 4,475 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
4,475 ÷ 3 = 1,491.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
4,475 ÷ 5 = 895 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
895 ÷ 5 = 179 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
179 ÷ 5 = 35.8 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
179 ÷ 7 = 25.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
179 ÷ 11 = 16.2727 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
179 ÷ 13 = 13.7692 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
179 ÷ 179 = 1 - No remainder! 179 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 429,600. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 5 x 179 = 429,600. It can also be written in exponential form as 25 x 31 x 52 x 1791.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 429,600.

429,600
Factor Arrows
2214,800
Factor Arrows
2107,400
Factor Arrows
253,700
Factor Arrows
226,850
Factor Arrows
213,425
Factor Arrows
34,475
Factor Arrows
5895
Factor Arrows
5179

More Prime Factorization Examples

429,598429,599429,601429,602
21 x 132 x 311 x 411429,59913531 x 1,217121 x 791 x 2,7191

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