Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 1,517,916?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 3 x 126,493
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 3, 126,493 }
  • Written in exponential form: 22 x 31 x 126,4931

Why is the prime factorization of 1,517,916 written as 22 x 31 x 126,4931?

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 1,517,916

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 1,517,916 by 2

1,517,916 ÷ 2 = 758,958 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
758,958 ÷ 2 = 379,479 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
379,479 ÷ 2 = 189,739.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
379,479 ÷ 3 = 126,493 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
126,493 ÷ 3 = 42,164.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
126,493 ÷ 5 = 25,298.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
126,493 ÷ 7 = 18,070.4286 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
126,493 ÷ 11 = 11,499.3636 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
126,493 ÷ 126,493 = 1 - No remainder! 126,493 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 1,517,916. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 3 x 126,493 = 1,517,916. It can also be written in exponential form as 22 x 31 x 126,4931.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 1,517,916.

1,517,916
Factor Arrows
2758,958
Factor Arrows
2379,479
Factor Arrows
3126,493

More Prime Factorization Examples

1,517,9141,517,9151,517,9171,517,918
21 x 758,957151 x 71 x 311 x 1,39911,517,917121 x 291 x 26,1711

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