Prime factorization or prime factor decomposition is the process of finding which prime numbers can be multiplied together to make the original number.
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.
Here are the first several prime factors: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29...
Let's start by dividing 721,522 by 2
721,522 ÷ 2 = 360,761 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
360,761 ÷ 2 = 180,380.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
360,761 ÷ 3 = 120,253.6667 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
360,761 ÷ 5 = 72,152.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
360,761 ÷ 7 = 51,537.2857 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
360,761 ÷ 367 = 983 - No remainder! 367 is one of the factors!
983 ÷ 367 = 2.6785 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 367 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
983 ÷ 373 = 2.6354 - This has a remainder. 373 is not a factor.
983 ÷ 379 = 2.5937 - This has a remainder. 379 is not a factor.
983 ÷ 383 = 2.5666 - This has a remainder. 383 is not a factor.
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Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
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983 ÷ 983 = 1 - No remainder! 983 is one of the factors!
The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 721,522. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 367 x 983 = 721,522. It can also be written in exponential form as 21 x 3671 x 9831.
Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 721,522.
| 721,522 | |||
 | |||
| 2 | 360,761 | ||
| |||
| 367 | 983 |