Prime factorization of $$$2980$$$

Find the prime factorization of $$$2980$$$.

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

Determine whether $$$2980$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$2980$$$ by $$${\color{green}2}$$$: $$$\frac{2980}{2} = {\color{red}1490}$$$.

Determine whether $$$1490$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$1490$$$ by $$${\color{green}2}$$$: $$$\frac{1490}{2} = {\color{red}745}$$$.

Determine whether $$$745$$$ is divisible by $$$2$$$.

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

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

Determine whether $$$745$$$ is divisible by $$$3$$$.

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

The next prime number is $$$5$$$.

Determine whether $$$745$$$ is divisible by $$$5$$$.

It is divisible, thus, divide $$$745$$$ by $$${\color{green}5}$$$: $$$\frac{745}{5} = {\color{red}149}$$$.

The prime number $$${\color{green}149}$$$ has no other factors then $$$1$$$ and $$${\color{green}149}$$$: $$$\frac{149}{149} = {\color{red}1}$$$.

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: $$$2980 = 2^{2} \cdot 5 \cdot 149$$$.

The prime factorization is $$$2980 = 2^{2} \cdot 5 \cdot 149$$$A.