Prime factorization algorithm
A prime factorization algorithm is an algorithm (a step-by-step process) by which an integer (whole number) is "decomposed" into a product of factors that are prime numbers. The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic guarantees that this decomposition is unique.
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A simple factorization algorithm
Description
We can describe a recursive algorithm to perform such factorizations: given a number n
- if n is prime, this is the factorization, so stop here.
- if n is composite, divide n by the first prime p1. If it divides cleanly, recurse with the value n/p1. If it does not divide cleanly, divide n by the next prime p2, and so on.
Time complexity
The described algoithm works fine for small n. However, for an 18-digit number (which has 60 digits in binary), all primes below about 1,000,000,000 may need to be tested, which is taxing even for a computer.
Adding two decimal digits to the original number will multiply the computation time by 10.
The difficulty (large time complexity) of factorization makes it a suitable basis for modern cryptography.
See also: Euler's Theorem, Integer factorization
