Prime factorization of $$$3168$$$

Find the prime factorization of $$$3168$$$.

Start with the number $$$2$$$.

Determine whether $$$3168$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$3168$$$ by $$${\color{green}2}$$$: $$$\frac{3168}{2} = {\color{red}1584}$$$.

Determine whether $$$1584$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$1584$$$ by $$${\color{green}2}$$$: $$$\frac{1584}{2} = {\color{red}792}$$$.

Determine whether $$$792$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$792$$$ by $$${\color{green}2}$$$: $$$\frac{792}{2} = {\color{red}396}$$$.

Determine whether $$$396$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$396$$$ by $$${\color{green}2}$$$: $$$\frac{396}{2} = {\color{red}198}$$$.

Determine whether $$$198$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$198$$$ by $$${\color{green}2}$$$: $$$\frac{198}{2} = {\color{red}99}$$$.

Determine whether $$$99$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

Since it is not divisible, move to the next prime number.

The next prime number is $$$3$$$.

Determine whether $$$99$$$ is divisible by $$$3$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$99$$$ by $$${\color{green}3}$$$: $$$\frac{99}{3} = {\color{red}33}$$$.

Determine whether $$$33$$$ is divisible by $$$3$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$33$$$ by $$${\color{green}3}$$$: $$$\frac{33}{3} = {\color{red}11}$$$.

The prime number $$${\color{green}11}$$$ has no other factors then $$$1$$$ and $$${\color{green}11}$$$: $$$\frac{11}{11} = {\color{red}1}$$$.

Since we have obtained $$$1$$$, we are done.

Now, just count the number of occurences of the divisors (green numbers), and write down the prime factorization: $$$3168 = 2^{5} \cdot 3^{2} \cdot 11$$$.

The prime factorization is $$$3168 = 2^{5} \cdot 3^{2} \cdot 11$$$A.