Prime factorization of $$$3954$$$

Find the prime factorization of $$$3954$$$.

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

Determine whether $$$3954$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$3954$$$ by $$${\color{green}2}$$$: $$$\frac{3954}{2} = {\color{red}1977}$$$.

Determine whether $$$1977$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

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

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

Determine whether $$$1977$$$ is divisible by $$$3$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$1977$$$ by $$${\color{green}3}$$$: $$$\frac{1977}{3} = {\color{red}659}$$$.

The prime number $$${\color{green}659}$$$ has no other factors then $$$1$$$ and $$${\color{green}659}$$$: $$$\frac{659}{659} = {\color{red}1}$$$.

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: $$$3954 = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 659$$$.

The prime factorization is $$$3954 = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 659$$$A.