Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 4,866,560?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 1,901
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 1,901 }
  • Written in exponential form: 29 x 51 x 1,9011

Why is the prime factorization of 4,866,560 written as 29 x 51 x 1,9011?

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 4,866,560

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 4,866,560 by 2

4,866,560 ÷ 2 = 2,433,280 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
2,433,280 ÷ 2 = 1,216,640 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,216,640 ÷ 2 = 608,320 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
608,320 ÷ 2 = 304,160 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
304,160 ÷ 2 = 152,080 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
152,080 ÷ 2 = 76,040 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
76,040 ÷ 2 = 38,020 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
38,020 ÷ 2 = 19,010 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
19,010 ÷ 2 = 9,505 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
9,505 ÷ 2 = 4,752.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
9,505 ÷ 3 = 3,168.3333 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
9,505 ÷ 5 = 1,901 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
1,901 ÷ 5 = 380.2 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,901 ÷ 7 = 271.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
1,901 ÷ 11 = 172.8182 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
1,901 ÷ 13 = 146.2308 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
1,901 ÷ 1,901 = 1 - No remainder! 1,901 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 4,866,560. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 1,901 = 4,866,560. It can also be written in exponential form as 29 x 51 x 1,9011.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 4,866,560.

4,866,560
Factor Arrows
22,433,280
Factor Arrows
21,216,640
Factor Arrows
2608,320
Factor Arrows
2304,160
Factor Arrows
2152,080
Factor Arrows
276,040
Factor Arrows
238,020
Factor Arrows
219,010
Factor Arrows
29,505
Factor Arrows
51,901

More Prime Factorization Examples

4,866,5584,866,5594,866,5614,866,562
21 x 31 x 791 x 10,26714,866,559135 x 71 x 2,861121 x 9111 x 2,6711

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