Analytic Number Theory
Prime factorization is the process of breaking down a composite number into its prime factors, which are the prime numbers that multiply together to yield the original number. This concept is fundamental in understanding how numbers relate to each other, particularly regarding their divisibility and the unique properties of primes. Prime factorization lays the groundwork for many important number theory concepts, including the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, which states that every integer greater than 1 can be expressed uniquely as a product of prime numbers, and it plays a crucial role in analyzing multiplicative functions.
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