fundamental theorem of arithmetic

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The fundamental theorem of arithmetic states that every integer greater than 1 can be written uniquely (up to the order of factors) as a product of prime numbers.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf mathematical theorem
theorem in number theory
alsoKnownAs prime factorization theorem NERFINISHED
unique factorization theorem NERFINISHED
appearsIn Disquisitiones Arithmeticae NERFINISHED
appliesTo integers greater than 1
clarification Uniqueness means that if n = p1⋯pk = q1⋯ql with primes pi, qj, then k = l and the primes are the same up to permutation.
conclusion Every integer greater than 1 has at least one prime factorization.
Every integer greater than 1 has at most one prime factorization up to ordering of factors.
dependsOn Euclidean algorithm NERFINISHED
basic properties of divisibility
doesNotHoldIn all integral domains
domainOfQuantification set of positive integers greater than 1
example 12 = 2^2 × 3 is the unique prime factorization of 12 up to order
30 = 2 × 3 × 5 is the unique prime factorization of 30 up to order
excludes integer 0
integer 1
field number theory
generalizationOf unique factorization in principal ideal domains
historicalAttribution Carl Friedrich Gauss popularized its modern formulation
holdsIn ring of integers
implies existence of prime factorization for each integer greater than 1
uniqueness of prime factorization for each integer greater than 1
importance foundational result in elementary number theory
logicalForm existence and uniqueness theorem
relatesToConcept arithmetic of integers
composite number
divisibility
greatest common divisor
least common multiple
prime number
role basis for many proofs involving integers and primes
specialCaseOf unique factorization domain theory
statement Every integer greater than 1 can be written as a product of prime numbers.
This factorization into primes is unique up to the order of the factors.
usedFor defining greatest common divisors via prime exponents
proving properties of arithmetic functions
proving properties of divisibility
proving that there are infinitely many primes
proving the Euclidean algorithm properties
proving uniqueness of representation in base systems
usedIn algebra
coding theory
computational number theory
cryptography
elementary number theory
yearFormalized 1801

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An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers coversConcept fundamental theorem of arithmetic