Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 776,574?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 73 x 197
    • or also written as { 2, 3, 3, 3, 73, 197 }
  • Written in exponential form: 21 x 33 x 731 x 1971

Why is the prime factorization of 776,574 written as 21 x 33 x 731 x 1971?

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 776,574

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 776,574 by 2

776,574 ÷ 2 = 388,287 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
388,287 ÷ 2 = 194,143.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
388,287 ÷ 3 = 129,429 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
129,429 ÷ 3 = 43,143 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
43,143 ÷ 3 = 14,381 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
14,381 ÷ 3 = 4,793.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
14,381 ÷ 5 = 2,876.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
14,381 ÷ 7 = 2,054.4286 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
14,381 ÷ 11 = 1,307.3636 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
14,381 ÷ 73 = 197 - No remainder! 73 is one of the factors!
197 ÷ 73 = 2.6986 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 73 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
197 ÷ 79 = 2.4937 - This has a remainder. 79 is not a factor.
197 ÷ 83 = 2.3735 - This has a remainder. 83 is not a factor.
197 ÷ 89 = 2.2135 - This has a remainder. 89 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
197 ÷ 197 = 1 - No remainder! 197 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 776,574. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 73 x 197 = 776,574. It can also be written in exponential form as 21 x 33 x 731 x 1971.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 776,574.

776,574
Factor Arrows
2388,287
Factor Arrows
3129,429
Factor Arrows
343,143
Factor Arrows
314,381
Factor Arrows
73197

More Prime Factorization Examples

776,572776,573776,575776,576
22 x 232 x 367171 x 110,939152 x 31,063127 x 6,0671

Try the factor calculator

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