Question

Give an example of how prime factorization could be used in the real world.

Answer 1

When you look behind the Idea of what prime factorization is, you will see that it is about breaking things down to their most basic parts. If you pay attention to the world, and your mind, when you learn math, you will get great life-lessons from learning about things like how we sort the world. Sorting numbers is great lesson in sorting reality.
What the hell do I mean by this?

OK, an example: let's say you are trying to understand the way a good government works. You decide, (or discover) what the basic, inalienable parts are. That means things which you can never, ever break if you want to build a good government. I would say the first 10 amendments of the Constitution of the United States (also known as "The Bill of Rights" are a good example. You cannot break those laws while making other laws, and still have a good government. They are the PRIME FACTORS in making laws.

A great example is the 8th Amendment, which states, "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." No one can make a just law that goes against that amendment (or any other) without it being "unconstitutional" (breaking the prime law - the Constitution - that which constitutes what the nation is based upon).

What does this really have to do with Prime Factors? If you understand the Bill of Rights, you can see that there is no way that cruel and unusual punishment will ever fit in with being a good American (or anyone else, either!) If you understand prime factorization you will see that there is no way that 4 is going to fit among the prime factors of 21. If you spend enough time and learn any concept of math well enough, it will help you understand how things in general work.

Math is about seeing how things fit. It is the science of (among other things) patterns and order. If you learn to accept math as a way to describe and think about certain parts of reality, you will get "the big picture" - the picture of math as something beyond just a boring subject in school.

Answer 2

@Lokikirja

Answer 3

Good? Did I explain OK?

Answer 4

Do you understand now?

Answer 5

Yes, Kinda

Answer 6

Glad I could help.

Answer 7

Maybe this could help you understand a bit more.

Answer 8

Many cryptographic algorithms rely on the fact that it is difficult to factorise very large numbers

Answer 9

Understand now?

Answer 10

@Jhannybean Did I explain this well?

Answer 11

what can prime factorization help a person in everyday life with.

Answer 12

@ShirouxGhoul

Answer 13

Time is divided into factors. Every day has 24 hours; if you have to take a pill three times a day, you take one every eight hours (3 x 8 = 24). An hour is divided into 60 minutes. Those 60 minutes are divided into 12 increments of five minutes each on the face of a clock (12 x 5 = 60). Hours are often divided into quarter- (4 x 15 = 60) and half-hour (2 x 30 = 60) segments.

Answer 14

Now I understand

Answer 15

YAY!

Answer 16

YAY!

Answer 17

Any more questions?

Answer 18

Nope not right now probably later.

Answer 19

Thanks for your help @ShirouxGhoul

Answer 20

Your welcome!