Find prime factors of 500
Break any number into its prime factors with a complete factor tree.
500
Divide 500 by the smallest prime factors repeatedly:
Step 1: Is 500 divisible by 2?
500 is even (last digit is 0)
500 ÷ 2 = 250
Step 2: Is 250 divisible by 2?
250 is even (last digit is 0)
250 ÷ 2 = 125
Step 3: Is 125 divisible by 5?
last digit is 5 (0 or 5)
125 ÷ 5 = 25
Step 4: Is 25 divisible by 5?
last digit is 5 (0 or 5)
25 ÷ 5 = 5
Step 5:
5 ÷ 5 = 1
Prime factorization (expanded):
500 = 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 × 5
In exponential form:
500 = 22 × 53
500 = 22 × 53
How to find prime factors of 500
To find the prime factorization of 500, start dividing by the smallest prime factor (2), then try 3, 5, 7, and so on until the quotient is 1. Each prime factor and its power make up the factorization.
This is a prime factorization — every integer greater than 1 has a unique prime factorization. We find it by dividing by the smallest primes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to 500?
The answer is 500 = 2² × 5³.
What method is used?
repeated division — divide by 2, then 3, then 5, and so on until the quotient is 1.