prime factor

Definition

A factor of a given integer which is also a prime number.

Example Sentences

• "Hence, the prime factors of 100 are 1, 2, 2, 5, 5, and 1 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 = 100. From the above illustration, we derive the following rule for finding all the prime factors of any composite number."
• "Theorem 5.5 Dickman's Theorem. The probability of a number N chosen at random having a prime factor between N#92;alpha and N#123;#92;alpha(1#43;#92;delta)#125; is approximately #61;#92;delta, independent of the magnitude of #92;alpha, if #92;delta is small."
• "If any subset of the set of prime factors of a be taken, then the product of the elements of this subset is a factor of a. For example, 12 is a factor of 60 and the set of prime factors of 12 is {2, 2, 3}, which is a subset of {2, 2, 3, 5}, which is the set of prime factors of 60."