Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 55,220,566?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 103 x 181 x 1,481
    • or also written as { 2, 103, 181, 1,481 }
  • Written in exponential form: 21 x 1031 x 1811 x 1,4811

Why is the prime factorization of 55,220,566 written as 21 x 1031 x 1811 x 1,4811?

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 55,220,566

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 55,220,566 by 2

55,220,566 ÷ 2 = 27,610,283 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
27,610,283 ÷ 2 = 13,805,141.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
27,610,283 ÷ 3 = 9,203,427.6667 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
27,610,283 ÷ 5 = 5,522,056.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
27,610,283 ÷ 7 = 3,944,326.1429 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
27,610,283 ÷ 103 = 268,061 - No remainder! 103 is one of the factors!
268,061 ÷ 103 = 2,602.534 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 103 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
268,061 ÷ 107 = 2,505.243 - This has a remainder. 107 is not a factor.
268,061 ÷ 109 = 2,459.2752 - This has a remainder. 109 is not a factor.
268,061 ÷ 113 = 2,372.2212 - This has a remainder. 113 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
268,061 ÷ 181 = 1,481 - No remainder! 181 is one of the factors!
1,481 ÷ 181 = 8.1823 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 181 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,481 ÷ 191 = 7.7539 - This has a remainder. 191 is not a factor.
1,481 ÷ 193 = 7.6736 - This has a remainder. 193 is not a factor.
1,481 ÷ 197 = 7.5178 - This has a remainder. 197 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
1,481 ÷ 1,481 = 1 - No remainder! 1,481 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 55,220,566. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 103 x 181 x 1,481 = 55,220,566. It can also be written in exponential form as 21 x 1031 x 1811 x 1,4811.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 55,220,566.

55,220,566
Factor Arrows
227,610,283
Factor Arrows
103268,061
Factor Arrows
1811,481

More Prime Factorization Examples

55,220,56455,220,56555,220,56755,220,568
22 x 71 x 831 x 23,761131 x 51 x 3,681,37114,5831 x 12,049123 x 31 x 131 x 176,9891

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