Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 118,256,388?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1182563882 x 591281943 x 394187964 x 295640976 x 1970939812 x 9854699
Negative: -1 x -118256388-2 x -59128194-3 x -39418796-4 x -29564097-6 x -19709398-12 x -9854699


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 118,256,388?

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 118,256,388, 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.

1 118,256,388
-1 -118,256,388

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 118,256,388.

Example:
1 x 118,256,388 = 118,256,388
and
-1 x -118,256,388 = 118,256,388
Notice both answers equal 118,256,388

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 118,256,388 and divide it by 2:

118,256,388 ÷ 2 = 59,128,194

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 59,128,194 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 59,128,194 118,256,388
-1 -2 -59,128,194 -118,256,388

Now, we try dividing 118,256,388 by 3:

118,256,388 ÷ 3 = 39,418,796

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 39,418,796 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 3 39,418,796 59,128,194 118,256,388
-1 -2 -3 -39,418,796 -59,128,194 -118,256,388

Let's try dividing by 4:

118,256,388 ÷ 4 = 29,564,097

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 29,564,097 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 3 4 29,564,097 39,418,796 59,128,194 118,256,388
-1 -2 -3 -4 -29,564,097 -39,418,796 -59,128,194 118,256,388
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346129,854,69919,709,39829,564,09739,418,79659,128,194118,256,388
-1-2-3-4-6-12-9,854,699-19,709,398-29,564,097-39,418,796-59,128,194-118,256,388

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