Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 232,004,000?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 31 x 1,871
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5, 31, 1,871 }
  • Written in exponential form: 25 x 53 x 311 x 1,8711

Why is the prime factorization of 232,004,000 written as 25 x 53 x 311 x 1,8711?

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 232,004,000

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 232,004,000 by 2

232,004,000 ÷ 2 = 116,002,000 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
116,002,000 ÷ 2 = 58,001,000 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
58,001,000 ÷ 2 = 29,000,500 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
29,000,500 ÷ 2 = 14,500,250 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
14,500,250 ÷ 2 = 7,250,125 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
7,250,125 ÷ 2 = 3,625,062.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
7,250,125 ÷ 3 = 2,416,708.3333 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
7,250,125 ÷ 5 = 1,450,025 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
1,450,025 ÷ 5 = 290,005 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
290,005 ÷ 5 = 58,001 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
58,001 ÷ 5 = 11,600.2 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
58,001 ÷ 7 = 8,285.8571 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
58,001 ÷ 11 = 5,272.8182 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
58,001 ÷ 13 = 4,461.6154 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
58,001 ÷ 31 = 1,871 - No remainder! 31 is one of the factors!
1,871 ÷ 31 = 60.3548 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 31 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,871 ÷ 37 = 50.5676 - This has a remainder. 37 is not a factor.
1,871 ÷ 41 = 45.6341 - This has a remainder. 41 is not a factor.
1,871 ÷ 43 = 43.5116 - This has a remainder. 43 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
1,871 ÷ 1,871 = 1 - No remainder! 1,871 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 232,004,000. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 31 x 1,871 = 232,004,000. It can also be written in exponential form as 25 x 53 x 311 x 1,8711.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 232,004,000.

232,004,000
Factor Arrows
2116,002,000
Factor Arrows
258,001,000
Factor Arrows
229,000,500
Factor Arrows
214,500,250
Factor Arrows
27,250,125
Factor Arrows
51,450,025
Factor Arrows
5290,005
Factor Arrows
558,001
Factor Arrows
311,871

More Prime Factorization Examples

232,003,998232,003,999232,004,001232,004,002
21 x 32 x 172 x 1031 x 43313,3471 x 69,317131 x 731 x 9911 x 1,069121 x 291 x 531 x 711 x 1,0631

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