Prime factors are building blocks
Prime factorization supports GCF, LCM, simplifying radicals and checking divisibility. This page is intended for educational-sized integers, not cryptographic-scale factoring.
Example
360 breaks into 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5, which can also be written as 2^3 x 3^2 x 5. Multiplying those factors returns the original number.
Common mistakes
Prime factorization uses prime numbers only. For example, 12 is a factor of 360, but it is not a prime factor because 12 can still be split into 2 x 2 x 3.
Limitations
The calculator is designed for normal classroom and practical integer work. Very large numbers can be slow to factor and may need specialized number theory software.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-17