Prime factors of number

Python, Math, Algorithm · May 24, 2023

Finds and returns the list of prime factors of a number.

  • Use a while loop to iterate over all possible prime factors, starting with 2.
  • If the current factor exactly divides num, add factor to the factors list and divide num by factor. Otherwise, increment factor by one.
def prime_factors(num):
  factors = []
  factor = 2
  while (num >= 2):
    if (num % factor == 0):
      factors.append(factor)
      num = num / factor
    else:
      factor += 1
  return factors
prime_factors(12) # [2,2,3]
prime_factors(42) # [2,3,7]

More like this

  • Median

    Finds the median of a list of numbers.

    Python, Math · Nov 2, 2020

  • Digitize number

    Converts a number to a list of digits.

    Python, Math · Sep 15, 2020

  • Sum of powers

    Returns the sum of the powers of all the numbers from start to end (both inclusive).

    Python, Math · Nov 2, 2020