Here's the gist - you have a list of @prime_factors. You need to break them apart into two other lists, then multiply the values in each list together to get two numbers. The goal is to get the two numbers closest to one another. Those will be your factors closest to the square root.

However, it's not as easy as it seems. When working with 1000, I tried taking the largest root, then as many of the smallest roots to match it, and so forth ... and it worked. I get 5*5 and 2*2*2*5. But, if you work with 700, you get 7*5 and 2*2*5, which isn't right - you should get 2*2*7 and 5*5.

I think I'm going to leave the problem in your capable hands. You've got a roadmap - have fun! :-)

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In reply to Re^7: OT: Finding Factor Closest To Square Root by dragonchild
in thread OT: Finding Factor Closest To Square Root by QM

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