Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 13,056?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 17
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 17 }
  • Written in exponential form: 28 x 31 x 171

Why is the prime factorization of 13,056 written as 28 x 31 x 171?

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 13,056

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 13,056 by 2

13,056 ÷ 2 = 6,528 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
6,528 ÷ 2 = 3,264 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
3,264 ÷ 2 = 1,632 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,632 ÷ 2 = 816 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
816 ÷ 2 = 408 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
408 ÷ 2 = 204 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
204 ÷ 2 = 102 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
102 ÷ 2 = 51 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
51 ÷ 2 = 25.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
51 ÷ 3 = 17 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
17 ÷ 3 = 5.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
17 ÷ 5 = 3.4 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
17 ÷ 7 = 2.4286 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
17 ÷ 11 = 1.5455 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
17 ÷ 17 = 1 - No remainder! 17 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 13,056. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 17 = 13,056. It can also be written in exponential form as 28 x 31 x 171.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 13,056.

13,056
Factor Arrows
26,528
Factor Arrows
23,264
Factor Arrows
21,632
Factor Arrows
2816
Factor Arrows
2408
Factor Arrows
2204
Factor Arrows
2102
Factor Arrows
251
Factor Arrows
317

More Prime Factorization Examples

13,05413,05513,05713,058
21 x 611 x 107151 x 71 x 3731111 x 1,187121 x 6,5291

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