Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 304,355,543?

Why is the prime factorization of 304,355,543 written as 12,409¹ x 24,527¹?

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 304,355,543

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 304,355,543 by 2

304,355,543 ÷ 2 = 152,177,771.5 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
304,355,543 ÷ 3 = 101,451,847.6667 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
304,355,543 ÷ 5 = 60,871,108.6 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
304,355,543 ÷ 12,409 = 24,527 - No remainder! 12,409 is one of the factors!
24,527 ÷ 12,409 = 1.9765 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 12409 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
24,527 ÷ 12,413 = 1.9759 - This has a remainder. 12,413 is not a factor.
24,527 ÷ 12,421 = 1.9746 - This has a remainder. 12,421 is not a factor.
24,527 ÷ 12,433 = 1.9727 - This has a remainder. 12,433 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
24,527 ÷ 24,527 = 1 - No remainder! 24,527 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 304,355,543. If we put all of it together we have the factors 12,409 x 24,527 = 304,355,543. It can also be written in exponential form as 12,409¹ x 24,527¹.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 304,355,543.

	304,355,543
12,409		24,527

More Prime Factorization Examples

Try the factor calculator