integer factorization procedure

noun
UK /ˈɪn.tɪ.dʒər ˌfæk.tər.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən prəˈsiː.dʒər/
US /ˈɪn.tə.dʒɚ ˌfæk.tɚ.əˈzeɪ.ʃən prəˈsiː.dʒɚ/

A step-by-step way to break a whole number into smaller numbers that multiply together to make it.

The teacher showed us an integer factorization procedure for splitting 12 into 2 times 2 times 3.

SYNONYMS

factorization methodfactoring algorithmprime decomposition processfactor-splitting routine

RELATED WORDS

prime numberdivisormultiplicationalgorithmfactor tree

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A computer program that finds the factors of a whole number.

The new integer factorization procedure runs faster on large numbers.

3. A classroom method for teaching students how to split numbers into factors.

She wrote the integer factorization procedure on the board before the quiz.

4. A mathematical technique used in cryptography to break number-based codes.

Security experts study the integer factorization procedure to test how safe codes are.