Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 6,462,420?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 37 x 41 x 71
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 3, 5, 37, 41, 71 }
  • Written in exponential form: 22 x 31 x 51 x 371 x 411 x 711

Why is the prime factorization of 6,462,420 written as 22 x 31 x 51 x 371 x 411 x 711?

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 6,462,420

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 6,462,420 by 2

6,462,420 ÷ 2 = 3,231,210 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
3,231,210 ÷ 2 = 1,615,605 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,615,605 ÷ 2 = 807,802.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,615,605 ÷ 3 = 538,535 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
538,535 ÷ 3 = 179,511.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
538,535 ÷ 5 = 107,707 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
107,707 ÷ 5 = 21,541.4 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
107,707 ÷ 7 = 15,386.7143 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
107,707 ÷ 11 = 9,791.5455 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
107,707 ÷ 13 = 8,285.1538 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
107,707 ÷ 37 = 2,911 - No remainder! 37 is one of the factors!
2,911 ÷ 37 = 78.6757 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 37 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
2,911 ÷ 41 = 71 - No remainder! 41 is one of the factors!
71 ÷ 41 = 1.7317 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 41 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
71 ÷ 43 = 1.6512 - This has a remainder. 43 is not a factor.
71 ÷ 47 = 1.5106 - This has a remainder. 47 is not a factor.
71 ÷ 53 = 1.3396 - This has a remainder. 53 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
71 ÷ 71 = 1 - No remainder! 71 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 6,462,420. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 37 x 41 x 71 = 6,462,420. It can also be written in exponential form as 22 x 31 x 51 x 371 x 411 x 711.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 6,462,420.

6,462,420
Factor Arrows
23,231,210
Factor Arrows
21,615,605
Factor Arrows
3538,535
Factor Arrows
5107,707
Factor Arrows
372,911
Factor Arrows
4171

More Prime Factorization Examples

6,462,4186,462,4196,462,4216,462,422
21 x 291 x 671 x 1,66316,462,419171 x 923,203121 x 3,231,2111

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