Prime Factors of 172
The prime factors of 172 are: 2 × 2 × 43.
What is Prime Factorization?
Prime factorization is the process of breaking down a composite number into a product of prime numbers that multiply to give the original number.
How to Find the Prime Factors of 172?
Start dividing 172 by the smallest prime number 2 and continue dividing by primes in increasing order until the quotient becomes 1. The divisors used are the prime factors.
Prime Factors Summary for 172
The number 172 has 3 prime factors in total.
There are 2 unique prime factors: 2, 43.
Prime Factorization Expressed with Exponents
The prime factorization of 172 expressed with exponents is:
2^2 × 43
Step-by-Step Prime Factorization of 172:
| Step | Divide By | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 86 |
| 2 | 2 | 43 |
| 3 | 43 | 1 |
Examples of Prime Factorization
| Number | Prime Factors |
|---|---|
| 12 | 2 × 2 × 3 |
| 45 | 3 × 3 × 5 |
| 60 | 2 × 2 × 3 × 5 |
| 100 | 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 |
| 231 | 3 × 7 × 11 |