Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 102,303?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 421
    • or also written as { 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 421 }
  • Written in exponential form: 35 x 4211

Why is the prime factorization of 102,303 written as 35 x 4211?

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 102,303

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 102,303 by 2

102,303 ÷ 2 = 51,151.5 - This has a remainder. Let's try another prime number.
102,303 ÷ 3 = 34,101 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
34,101 ÷ 3 = 11,367 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
11,367 ÷ 3 = 3,789 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
3,789 ÷ 3 = 1,263 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
1,263 ÷ 3 = 421 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
421 ÷ 3 = 140.3333 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
421 ÷ 5 = 84.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
421 ÷ 7 = 60.1429 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
421 ÷ 11 = 38.2727 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
421 ÷ 421 = 1 - No remainder! 421 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 102,303. If we put all of it together we have the factors 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 421 = 102,303. It can also be written in exponential form as 35 x 4211.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 102,303.

102,303
Factor Arrows
334,101
Factor Arrows
311,367
Factor Arrows
33,789
Factor Arrows
31,263
Factor Arrows
3421

More Prime Factorization Examples

102,301102,302102,304102,305
102,301121 x 51,151125 x 231 x 139151 x 71 x 371 x 791

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