Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 55,055?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 5 x 7 x 11 x 11 x 13
    • or also written as { 5, 7, 11, 11, 13 }
  • Written in exponential form: 51 x 71 x 112 x 131

Why is the prime factorization of 55,055 written as 51 x 71 x 112 x 131?

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 55,055

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 55,055 by 2

55,055 ÷ 2 = 27,527.5 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
55,055 ÷ 3 = 18,351.6667 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
55,055 ÷ 5 = 11,011 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
11,011 ÷ 5 = 2,202.2 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
11,011 ÷ 7 = 1,573 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
1,573 ÷ 7 = 224.7143 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 7 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,573 ÷ 11 = 143 - No remainder! 11 is one of the factors!
143 ÷ 11 = 13 - No remainder! 11 is one of the factors!
13 ÷ 11 = 1.1818 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 11 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
13 ÷ 13 = 1 - No remainder! 13 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 55,055. If we put all of it together we have the factors 5 x 7 x 11 x 11 x 13 = 55,055. It can also be written in exponential form as 51 x 71 x 112 x 131.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 55,055.

55,055
Factor Arrows
511,011
Factor Arrows
71,573
Factor Arrows
11143
Factor Arrows
1113

More Prime Factorization Examples

55,05355,05455,05655,057
33 x 2,039121 x 27,527124 x 31 x 311 x 37155,0571

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