%ProjectEuler/Problem3.m %This is a script to answer Problem 3 for Project Euler %The largest prime factor of 600851475143 %Setup your variables number = 600851475143; %The number we are trying to find the greatest prime factor of primeNums = []; %A list of prime numbers. Will include all prime numbers <= number factors = []; %For the list of factors of number tempNum = number; %Used to track the current value if all of the factors were taken out of number %number = 16; %Used for a test case %Get the prime numbers up to sqrt(number). If it is not prime there must be a value <= sqrt primeNums = primes(sqrt(number)); %Setup the loop counter = 1; %Start with the lowest number and work your way up. When you reach a number > size(primeNums) you have found all of the factors while(counter <= size(primeNums)(2)) %Divide the number by the next prime number in the list answer = (tempNum/primeNums(counter)); %If it is a whole number add it to the factors if(mod(answer,1) == 0) factors(end + 1) = primeNums(counter); %Set tempNum so that it reflects number/factors tempNum = tempNum / primeNums(counter); %Keep the counter where it is in case a factor appears more than once %Get the new set of prime numbers primeNums = primes(sqrt(tempNum)); else %If it was not an integer increment the counter ++counter; end end %When the last number is not divisible by a prime number it must be a prime number factors(end + 1) = tempNum; %Remove the variables clear counter; clear tempNum; clear answer; clear number; clear primeNums; %Print the answer max(factors)