How do you compute the prime factorization of a number?

Answer 1

Unfortunately there is no formula to factor any number into its respective primes.

However for given any number x

Its prime factorization would be represented by:

x = p1ap2bp3c .... p(n-1)A PnB

for

p1 = 1

p2 = 2

p3 = 3

p4 = 5

p5 = 7

.

.

.

p(n-1) = Second largest prime factor of x

pn = Largest prime factor of x

where a, b, c, and A and B are the degrees of each specific prime.

In practice the prime factorization is done by direct search factorization a.k.a trial and error.

There are several algorithms designed to assist mathematicians with this process.