How is prime factorization done? - Answers

How to Do Prime FactorizationHere is one way to do prime factorization:We'll find the prime factorization of 98.Though you can start with any of the factors which when multiplied together equal 98, let's start with the lowest prime factor, which is 2.2 X 49 = 98 Now, find the lowest prime factor of 49, which is 7. 7 X 7 = 49.Write it like this:2 X 7 X 7 = 98, which is the prime factorization because all the factors are prime.Here is another example:We'll do the number 100:2 X 50 = 1002 X 2 X 25 (We just factored the number 50, using the lowest Prime number that will divide evenly into 50) Now, we'll factor 25. 5 X 5 = 25. Write it like this:2 X 2 X 5 X 5All the factors are prime now, so the prime factorization of 100 is 2 X 2 X 5 X 5.So, basically, prime factorization is simply finding the prime factors (those which have only 1 and itself as factors) that when multiplied together equal the given number. The above examples show one way to accomplish that.