Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 553,512?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 23,063
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 3, 23,063 }
  • Written in exponential form: 23 x 31 x 23,0631

Why is the prime factorization of 553,512 written as 23 x 31 x 23,0631?

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 553,512

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 553,512 by 2

553,512 ÷ 2 = 276,756 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
276,756 ÷ 2 = 138,378 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
138,378 ÷ 2 = 69,189 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
69,189 ÷ 2 = 34,594.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
69,189 ÷ 3 = 23,063 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
23,063 ÷ 3 = 7,687.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
23,063 ÷ 5 = 4,612.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
23,063 ÷ 7 = 3,294.7143 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
23,063 ÷ 11 = 2,096.6364 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
23,063 ÷ 23,063 = 1 - No remainder! 23,063 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 553,512. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 23,063 = 553,512. It can also be written in exponential form as 23 x 31 x 23,0631.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 553,512.

553,512
Factor Arrows
2276,756
Factor Arrows
2138,378
Factor Arrows
269,189
Factor Arrows
323,063

More Prime Factorization Examples

553,510553,511553,513553,514
21 x 51 x 55,351171 x 1071 x 7391553,513121 x 131 x 611 x 3491

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