Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 4,606,452?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 199 x 643
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 3, 3, 199, 643 }
  • Written in exponential form: 22 x 32 x 1991 x 6431

Why is the prime factorization of 4,606,452 written as 22 x 32 x 1991 x 6431?

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 4,606,452

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 4,606,452 by 2

4,606,452 ÷ 2 = 2,303,226 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
2,303,226 ÷ 2 = 1,151,613 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,151,613 ÷ 2 = 575,806.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,151,613 ÷ 3 = 383,871 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
383,871 ÷ 3 = 127,957 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
127,957 ÷ 3 = 42,652.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
127,957 ÷ 5 = 25,591.4 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
127,957 ÷ 7 = 18,279.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
127,957 ÷ 11 = 11,632.4545 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
127,957 ÷ 199 = 643 - No remainder! 199 is one of the factors!
643 ÷ 199 = 3.2312 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 199 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
643 ÷ 211 = 3.0474 - This has a remainder. 211 is not a factor.
643 ÷ 223 = 2.8834 - This has a remainder. 223 is not a factor.
643 ÷ 227 = 2.8326 - This has a remainder. 227 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
643 ÷ 643 = 1 - No remainder! 643 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 4,606,452. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 199 x 643 = 4,606,452. It can also be written in exponential form as 22 x 32 x 1991 x 6431.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 4,606,452.

4,606,452
Factor Arrows
22,303,226
Factor Arrows
21,151,613
Factor Arrows
3383,871
Factor Arrows
3127,957
Factor Arrows
199643

More Prime Factorization Examples

4,606,4504,606,4514,606,4534,606,454
21 x 52 x 1811 x 5091671 x 1971 x 34913371 x 13,669121 x 2,303,2271

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