Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 511,035,255?

Why is the prime factorization of 511,035,255 written as 3² x 5¹ x 101¹ x 229¹ x 491¹?

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 511,035,255

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.

Here are the first several prime factors: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29...

Let's start by dividing 511,035,255 by 2

511,035,255 ÷ 2 = 255,517,627.5 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
511,035,255 ÷ 3 = 170,345,085 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
170,345,085 ÷ 3 = 56,781,695 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
56,781,695 ÷ 3 = 18,927,231.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
56,781,695 ÷ 5 = 11,356,339 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
11,356,339 ÷ 5 = 2,271,267.8 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
11,356,339 ÷ 7 = 1,622,334.1429 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
11,356,339 ÷ 11 = 1,032,394.4545 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
11,356,339 ÷ 13 = 873,564.5385 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
11,356,339 ÷ 101 = 112,439 - No remainder! 101 is one of the factors!
112,439 ÷ 101 = 1,113.2574 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 101 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
112,439 ÷ 103 = 1,091.6408 - This has a remainder. 103 is not a factor.
112,439 ÷ 107 = 1,050.8318 - This has a remainder. 107 is not a factor.
112,439 ÷ 109 = 1,031.5505 - This has a remainder. 109 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
112,439 ÷ 229 = 491 - No remainder! 229 is one of the factors!
491 ÷ 229 = 2.1441 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 229 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
491 ÷ 233 = 2.1073 - This has a remainder. 233 is not a factor.
491 ÷ 239 = 2.0544 - This has a remainder. 239 is not a factor.
491 ÷ 241 = 2.0373 - This has a remainder. 241 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
491 ÷ 491 = 1 - No remainder! 491 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 511,035,255. If we put all of it together we have the factors 3 x 3 x 5 x 101 x 229 x 491 = 511,035,255. It can also be written in exponential form as 3² x 5¹ x 101¹ x 229¹ x 491¹.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 511,035,255.

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