Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 414,414?
- The prime factors are: 2 x 3 x 3 x 7 x 11 x 13 x 23
- or also written as { 2, 3, 3, 7, 11, 13, 23 }
- Written in exponential form: 21 x 32 x 71 x 111 x 131 x 231
Prime factorization or prime factor decomposition is the process of finding which prime numbers can be multiplied together to make the original number.
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 414,414 by 2
414,414 ÷ 2 = 207,207 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
207,207 ÷ 2 = 103,603.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
207,207 ÷ 3 = 69,069 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
69,069 ÷ 3 = 23,023 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
23,023 ÷ 3 = 7,674.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
23,023 ÷ 5 = 4,604.6 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
23,023 ÷ 7 = 3,289 - No remainder! 7 is one of the factors!
3,289 ÷ 7 = 469.8571 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 7 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
3,289 ÷ 11 = 299 - No remainder! 11 is one of the factors!
299 ÷ 11 = 27.1818 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 11 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
299 ÷ 13 = 23 - No remainder! 13 is one of the factors!
23 ÷ 13 = 1.7692 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 13 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
23 ÷ 17 = 1.3529 - This has a remainder. 17 is not a factor.
23 ÷ 19 = 1.2105 - This has a remainder. 19 is not a factor.
23 ÷ 23 = 1 - No remainder! 23 is one of the factors!
The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 414,414. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 3 x 3 x 7 x 11 x 13 x 23 = 414,414. It can also be written in exponential form as 21 x 32 x 71 x 111 x 131 x 231.
Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 414,414.
414,414 | |||||||
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2 | 207,207 | ||||||
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3 | 69,069 | ||||||
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3 | 23,023 | ||||||
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7 | 3,289 | ||||||
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11 | 299 | ||||||
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13 | 23 |