What are the prime factors of 22?


Quick Answer

The prime factors of 22 are 2 and 11. Prime factors of a number are composed of prime numbers that when multiplied together form the number.

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What are the prime factors of 22?
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Full Answer

Determining the prime factors of a given number is done through the process of prime factorization. The process may be started by dividing the number by two, which is the smallest prime number. If the result is a whole number, then two is considered one of the prime factors of the number. The resulting quotient should also be subjected to the same division until a non-whole number is obtained.

If the result of dividing the original number by two is not a whole number, then proceed by dividing the number by the next higher prime number, which is the number 3. Repeat the process until the number is decomposed to all prime numbers. All of the prime numbers used as divisors and quotient are considered the prime factors.

A prime number is any positive integer greater than 1 that has no other factors except 1 and itself. The number 29 is an example of a prime number because its factors are only 1 and 29. On the other hand, a number that has more than two factors is called a composite number.

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