Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 10,100?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 101002 x 50504 x 25255 x 202010 x 101020 x 50525 x 40450 x 202100 x 101
Negative: -1 x -10100-2 x -5050-4 x -2525-5 x -2020-10 x -1010-20 x -505-25 x -404-50 x -202-100 x -101


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 10,100?

Unfortunately, there's not simple formula to identifying all of the factors of a number and it can be a tedious process when trying to identify the divisors of larger numbers. To find the factor combinations of the number 10,100, it is easier to work with a table - it's called factoring from the outside in.

Outside in Factoring

We start by creating a table and writing 1 on the left side and then the number we're trying to find the factors for on the right side in a table. Then, below that, write the numbers as a negative as well.

1 10,100
-1 -10,100

Why are the negative numbers included?

When you multiply two negative numbers together, you get a positive number. That means both the positive and negative numbers are factors of 10,100.

Example:
1 x 10,100 = 10,100
and
-1 x -10,100 = 10,100
Notice both answers equal 10,100

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 10,100 and divide it by 2:

10,100 ÷ 2 = 5,050

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 5,050 are factors. In this case, the quotient is a whole number. Write them in the table inside the other two factors like the below example. Don't forget to write the negative numbers too!

Here is what our table should look like at this step:

1 2 5,050 10,100
-1 -2 -5,050 -10,100

Now, we try dividing 10,100 by 3:

10,100 ÷ 3 = 3,366.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 3,366.6667 are factors. In this case, the quotient is not a whole number. Don't write anything down and try the next divisor.

Here is what our table should look like at this step:

1 2 5,050 10,100
-1 -2 -5,050 -10,100

Let's try dividing by 4:

10,100 ÷ 4 = 2,525

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 2,525 are factors. In this case, the quotient is a whole number. Write them in the table inside the other two factors like the below example. Don't forget to write the negative numbers too!

Here is what our table should look like at this step:

1 2 4 2,525 5,050 10,100
-1 -2 -4 -2,525 -5,050 10,100
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

If you did it right, you will end up with this table:

1245102025501001012024045051,0102,0202,5255,05010,100
-1-2-4-5-10-20-25-50-100-101-202-404-505-1,010-2,020-2,525-5,050-10,100

More Examples

Here are some more numbers to try:

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