Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 472,512?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 23 x 107
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 23, 107 }
  • Written in exponential form: 26 x 31 x 231 x 1071

Why is the prime factorization of 472,512 written as 26 x 31 x 231 x 1071?

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 472,512

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 472,512 by 2

472,512 ÷ 2 = 236,256 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
236,256 ÷ 2 = 118,128 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
118,128 ÷ 2 = 59,064 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
59,064 ÷ 2 = 29,532 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
29,532 ÷ 2 = 14,766 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
14,766 ÷ 2 = 7,383 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
7,383 ÷ 2 = 3,691.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
7,383 ÷ 3 = 2,461 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
2,461 ÷ 3 = 820.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
2,461 ÷ 5 = 492.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
2,461 ÷ 7 = 351.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
2,461 ÷ 11 = 223.7273 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
2,461 ÷ 23 = 107 - No remainder! 23 is one of the factors!
107 ÷ 23 = 4.6522 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 23 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
107 ÷ 29 = 3.6897 - This has a remainder. 29 is not a factor.
107 ÷ 31 = 3.4516 - This has a remainder. 31 is not a factor.
107 ÷ 37 = 2.8919 - This has a remainder. 37 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
107 ÷ 107 = 1 - No remainder! 107 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 472,512. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 23 x 107 = 472,512. It can also be written in exponential form as 26 x 31 x 231 x 1071.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 472,512.

472,512
Factor Arrows
2236,256
Factor Arrows
2118,128
Factor Arrows
259,064
Factor Arrows
229,532
Factor Arrows
214,766
Factor Arrows
27,383
Factor Arrows
32,461
Factor Arrows
23107

More Prime Factorization Examples

472,510472,511472,513472,514
21 x 51 x 47,2511131 x 191 x 1,91311371 x 3,449121 x 71 x 33,7511

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