Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 72,272,256?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 7 x 7 x 23 x 167
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 7, 7, 23, 167 }
  • Written in exponential form: 27 x 31 x 72 x 231 x 1671

Why is the prime factorization of 72,272,256 written as 27 x 31 x 72 x 231 x 1671?

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 72,272,256

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 72,272,256 by 2

72,272,256 ÷ 2 = 36,136,128 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
36,136,128 ÷ 2 = 18,068,064 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
18,068,064 ÷ 2 = 9,034,032 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
9,034,032 ÷ 2 = 4,517,016 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
4,517,016 ÷ 2 = 2,258,508 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
2,258,508 ÷ 2 = 1,129,254 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,129,254 ÷ 2 = 564,627 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
564,627 ÷ 2 = 282,313.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
564,627 ÷ 3 = 188,209 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
188,209 ÷ 3 = 62,736.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
188,209 ÷ 5 = 37,641.8 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
188,209 ÷ 7 = 26,887 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
26,887 ÷ 7 = 3,841 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
3,841 ÷ 7 = 548.7143 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 7 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
3,841 ÷ 11 = 349.1818 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
3,841 ÷ 13 = 295.4615 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
3,841 ÷ 17 = 225.9412 - This has a remainder. 17 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
3,841 ÷ 23 = 167 - No remainder! 23 is one of the factors!
167 ÷ 23 = 7.2609 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 23 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
167 ÷ 29 = 5.7586 - This has a remainder. 29 is not a factor.
167 ÷ 31 = 5.3871 - This has a remainder. 31 is not a factor.
167 ÷ 37 = 4.5135 - This has a remainder. 37 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
167 ÷ 167 = 1 - No remainder! 167 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 72,272,256. 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 7 x 7 x 23 x 167 = 72,272,256. It can also be written in exponential form as 27 x 31 x 72 x 231 x 1671.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 72,272,256.

72,272,256
Factor Arrows
236,136,128
Factor Arrows
218,068,064
Factor Arrows
29,034,032
Factor Arrows
24,517,016
Factor Arrows
22,258,508
Factor Arrows
21,129,254
Factor Arrows
2564,627
Factor Arrows
3188,209
Factor Arrows
726,887
Factor Arrows
73,841
Factor Arrows
23167

More Prime Factorization Examples

72,272,25472,272,25572,272,25772,272,258
21 x 4911 x 73,597151 x 111 x 2571 x 5,1131191 x 2831 x 13,441121 x 411 x 881,3691

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