Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 56,481?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 3 x 67 x 281
    • or also written as { 3, 67, 281 }
  • Written in exponential form: 31 x 671 x 2811

Why is the prime factorization of 56,481 written as 31 x 671 x 2811?

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 56,481

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 56,481 by 2

56,481 ÷ 2 = 28,240.5 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
56,481 ÷ 3 = 18,827 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
18,827 ÷ 3 = 6,275.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
18,827 ÷ 5 = 3,765.4 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
18,827 ÷ 7 = 2,689.5714 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
18,827 ÷ 11 = 1,711.5455 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
18,827 ÷ 67 = 281 - No remainder! 67 is one of the factors!
281 ÷ 67 = 4.194 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 67 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
281 ÷ 71 = 3.9577 - This has a remainder. 71 is not a factor.
281 ÷ 73 = 3.8493 - This has a remainder. 73 is not a factor.
281 ÷ 79 = 3.557 - This has a remainder. 79 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
281 ÷ 281 = 1 - No remainder! 281 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 56,481. If we put all of it together we have the factors 3 x 67 x 281 = 56,481. It can also be written in exponential form as 31 x 671 x 2811.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 56,481.

56,481
Factor Arrows
318,827
Factor Arrows
67281

More Prime Factorization Examples

56,47956,48056,48256,483
56,479125 x 51 x 353121 x 311 x 911171 x 8,0691

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