Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 4,546,112?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 251 x 283
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 251, 283 }
  • Written in exponential form: 26 x 2511 x 2831

Why is the prime factorization of 4,546,112 written as 26 x 2511 x 2831?

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 4,546,112

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 4,546,112 by 2

4,546,112 ÷ 2 = 2,273,056 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
2,273,056 ÷ 2 = 1,136,528 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,136,528 ÷ 2 = 568,264 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
568,264 ÷ 2 = 284,132 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
284,132 ÷ 2 = 142,066 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
142,066 ÷ 2 = 71,033 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
71,033 ÷ 2 = 35,516.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
71,033 ÷ 3 = 23,677.6667 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
71,033 ÷ 5 = 14,206.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
71,033 ÷ 7 = 10,147.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
71,033 ÷ 251 = 283 - No remainder! 251 is one of the factors!
283 ÷ 251 = 1.1275 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 251 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
283 ÷ 257 = 1.1012 - This has a remainder. 257 is not a factor.
283 ÷ 263 = 1.076 - This has a remainder. 263 is not a factor.
283 ÷ 269 = 1.052 - This has a remainder. 269 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
283 ÷ 283 = 1 - No remainder! 283 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 4,546,112. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 251 x 283 = 4,546,112. It can also be written in exponential form as 26 x 2511 x 2831.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 4,546,112.

4,546,112
Factor Arrows
22,273,056
Factor Arrows
21,136,528
Factor Arrows
2568,264
Factor Arrows
2284,132
Factor Arrows
2142,066
Factor Arrows
271,033
Factor Arrows
251283

More Prime Factorization Examples

4,546,1104,546,1114,546,1134,546,114
21 x 31 x 51 x 151,5371191 x 231 x 1011 x 103131 x 111 x 131 x 10,597121 x 5031 x 4,5191

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