Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 878,224?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 131 x 419
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 131, 419 }
  • Written in exponential form: 24 x 1311 x 4191

Why is the prime factorization of 878,224 written as 24 x 1311 x 4191?

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 878,224

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 878,224 by 2

878,224 ÷ 2 = 439,112 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
439,112 ÷ 2 = 219,556 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
219,556 ÷ 2 = 109,778 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
109,778 ÷ 2 = 54,889 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
54,889 ÷ 2 = 27,444.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
54,889 ÷ 3 = 18,296.3333 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
54,889 ÷ 5 = 10,977.8 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
54,889 ÷ 7 = 7,841.2857 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
54,889 ÷ 131 = 419 - No remainder! 131 is one of the factors!
419 ÷ 131 = 3.1985 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 131 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
419 ÷ 137 = 3.0584 - This has a remainder. 137 is not a factor.
419 ÷ 139 = 3.0144 - This has a remainder. 139 is not a factor.
419 ÷ 149 = 2.8121 - This has a remainder. 149 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
419 ÷ 419 = 1 - No remainder! 419 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 878,224. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 131 x 419 = 878,224. It can also be written in exponential form as 24 x 1311 x 4191.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 878,224.

878,224
Factor Arrows
2439,112
Factor Arrows
2219,556
Factor Arrows
2109,778
Factor Arrows
254,889
Factor Arrows
131419

More Prime Factorization Examples

878,222878,223878,225878,226
21 x 3371 x 1,303131 x 831 x 3,527152 x 35,129121 x 31 x 1971 x 7431

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