Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 271,502,347?

Why is the prime factorization of 271,502,347 written as 131¹ x 1,103¹ x 1,879¹?

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 271,502,347

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.

Here are the first several prime factors: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29...

Let's start by dividing 271,502,347 by 2

271,502,347 ÷ 2 = 135,751,173.5 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
271,502,347 ÷ 3 = 90,500,782.3333 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
271,502,347 ÷ 5 = 54,300,469.4 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
271,502,347 ÷ 131 = 2,072,537 - No remainder! 131 is one of the factors!
2,072,537 ÷ 131 = 15,820.8931 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 131 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
2,072,537 ÷ 137 = 15,128.0073 - This has a remainder. 137 is not a factor.
2,072,537 ÷ 139 = 14,910.3381 - This has a remainder. 139 is not a factor.
2,072,537 ÷ 149 = 13,909.6443 - This has a remainder. 149 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
2,072,537 ÷ 1,103 = 1,879 - No remainder! 1,103 is one of the factors!
1,879 ÷ 1,103 = 1.7035 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 1103 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
1,879 ÷ 1,109 = 1.6943 - This has a remainder. 1,109 is not a factor.
1,879 ÷ 1,117 = 1.6822 - This has a remainder. 1,117 is not a factor.
1,879 ÷ 1,123 = 1.6732 - This has a remainder. 1,123 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
1,879 ÷ 1,879 = 1 - No remainder! 1,879 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 271,502,347. If we put all of it together we have the factors 131 x 1,103 x 1,879 = 271,502,347. It can also be written in exponential form as 131¹ x 1,103¹ x 1,879¹.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 271,502,347.

	271,502,347
131		2,072,537
	1,103		1,879

More Prime Factorization Examples

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