Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 958,640?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 23 x 521
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 23, 521 }
  • Written in exponential form: 24 x 51 x 231 x 5211

Why is the prime factorization of 958,640 written as 24 x 51 x 231 x 5211?

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 958,640

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 958,640 by 2

958,640 ÷ 2 = 479,320 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
479,320 ÷ 2 = 239,660 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
239,660 ÷ 2 = 119,830 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
119,830 ÷ 2 = 59,915 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
59,915 ÷ 2 = 29,957.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
59,915 ÷ 3 = 19,971.6667 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
59,915 ÷ 5 = 11,983 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
11,983 ÷ 5 = 2,396.6 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
11,983 ÷ 7 = 1,711.8571 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
11,983 ÷ 11 = 1,089.3636 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
11,983 ÷ 13 = 921.7692 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
11,983 ÷ 23 = 521 - No remainder! 23 is one of the factors!
521 ÷ 23 = 22.6522 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 23 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
521 ÷ 29 = 17.9655 - This has a remainder. 29 is not a factor.
521 ÷ 31 = 16.8065 - This has a remainder. 31 is not a factor.
521 ÷ 37 = 14.0811 - This has a remainder. 37 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
521 ÷ 521 = 1 - No remainder! 521 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 958,640. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 23 x 521 = 958,640. It can also be written in exponential form as 24 x 51 x 231 x 5211.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 958,640.

958,640
Factor Arrows
2479,320
Factor Arrows
2239,660
Factor Arrows
2119,830
Factor Arrows
259,915
Factor Arrows
511,983
Factor Arrows
23521

More Prime Factorization Examples

958,638958,639958,641958,642
21 x 31 x 159,7731111 x 87,149131 x 319,547121 x 431 x 711 x 1571

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