 |
| ||
| |||
|
| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
|
Question from pete, a student: how do you find the number of factors in a really big number without using a factoring program or listing the out? |
Pete,
You can't. To find the factors and number of factors you really need to know the primes divide the number and how often. For example we know the number 25 x 37 x 138 has (5+1)(7+1)(8+1) = 432 divisors but it depends on knowing the primes appear to the exponents of 5, 7 and 8 respectively. To factor large numbers is extremely difficult, if not impossible, even for the world's fastest computers.
Penny
| ||
| ||
| ||
 |
 |
|
Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.