Fun Uncle with Prime Number Lookup

[RaviWildcat]

My young nephew is learning about factoring. The principle is that any non - prime number can be broken down into a series of prime numbers. For example, 9 = 3 x 3. My given number (9) can be broken down to a product of prime numbers (3 x 3). 12, can be broken into 2x2x3 and so on.

I'm looking at it like this: (Let's say my given number is in cell d7

Given number
40	=IFERROR(IF(MOD(D7,2)=0,D7/2,IF((MOD(D7,3)=0),D7/3,IF((MOD(D7,5)=0),D7/5,".."))),"..")	=IFERROR(IF(MOD(E7,2)=0,E7/2,IF((MOD(E7,3)=0),E7/3,"..")),"..")
40	20	10	5

you see how I'm first checking mods with prime numbers (2,3,5) - first checking does mod 2 = 0 , then divideby 2, else if mod 3 = 0 then divide by 3 else if mod 5 = 0 then divide by 5 - if none of these things are true then enter ".." then repeat with the result until I get to ..


Any thoughts about referencing a lookup table? I'm thinking about populating a lookup table with a prime number in each column - first the formula checks mod in row 1 of the table (which is 2) then it checks mod in row 2 of the table (which is the next prime number etc.) etc.

That would save me from having a monster if formula!

(There are other approaches that are alternatively cleverer / more cumbersome. I suppose I could write a recursive function in VBA too though the real fun comes from formulas

Any thoughts?

 

[6StringJazzer]

I had some fun with this one.

Create the following 2 lambda functions in Name Manager...

This is black magic and you are a witch.