[Math] Ways to divide number into two factors

combinatorics

Given the prime number decomposition of any number, what are the ways to factorise it into two different factors.

In general, can someone point to theory related to splitting a group of repeating people into subgroups.

Best Answer

Let's assume you are talking about natural numbers greater than one and positive factors.

Lets say that the prime decomposition is $p_1^{a_1}\cdot p_2^{a_2}\cdot\ldots\cdot p_n^{a_n}$ where of course $n\in\Bbb N$, $n\ge 1$, and for all $a_k$, $a_k\in\Bbb N$, $a_k\ge 1$.

All the divisors of this number can be expressed with the same primes and with exponents between $0$ and $a_k$ inclusive. This means the total number of factors is $(a_1+1)(a_2+1)\ldots (a_n+1)$.

If that number is odd, the original number was a square. A factorization that you want uses two of the factors, except for the expression of the number as a square which uses only one. Thus the number of desired factorizations is

$$\frac{(a_1+1)(a_2+1)\ldots (a_n+1)+1}2$$

If that number is even, the original number is not a square, and we get the number

$$\frac{(a_1+1)(a_2+1)\ldots (a_n+1)}2$$

Your last question is not clear.