Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 687,744?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 199
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 199 }
  • Written in exponential form: 27 x 33 x 1991

Why is the prime factorization of 687,744 written as 27 x 33 x 1991?

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 687,744

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 687,744 by 2

687,744 ÷ 2 = 343,872 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
343,872 ÷ 2 = 171,936 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
171,936 ÷ 2 = 85,968 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
85,968 ÷ 2 = 42,984 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
42,984 ÷ 2 = 21,492 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
21,492 ÷ 2 = 10,746 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
10,746 ÷ 2 = 5,373 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
5,373 ÷ 2 = 2,686.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
5,373 ÷ 3 = 1,791 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
1,791 ÷ 3 = 597 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
597 ÷ 3 = 199 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
199 ÷ 3 = 66.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
199 ÷ 5 = 39.8 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
199 ÷ 7 = 28.4286 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
199 ÷ 11 = 18.0909 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
199 ÷ 199 = 1 - No remainder! 199 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 687,744. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 199 = 687,744. It can also be written in exponential form as 27 x 33 x 1991.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 687,744.

687,744
Factor Arrows
2343,872
Factor Arrows
2171,936
Factor Arrows
285,968
Factor Arrows
242,984
Factor Arrows
221,492
Factor Arrows
210,746
Factor Arrows
25,373
Factor Arrows
31,791
Factor Arrows
3597
Factor Arrows
3199

More Prime Factorization Examples

687,742687,743687,745687,746
21 x 111 x 431 x 727171 x 191 x 5,171151 x 2631 x 523121 x 231 x 14,9511

Try the factor calculator

Explore more about the number 687,744:


Ask a Question