Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 118,596?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1185962 x 592983 x 395324 x 296496 x 1976612 x 9883
Negative: -1 x -118596-2 x -59298-3 x -39532-4 x -29649-6 x -19766-12 x -9883


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 118,596?

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 118,596, 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.

1 118,596
-1 -118,596

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 118,596.

Example:
1 x 118,596 = 118,596
and
-1 x -118,596 = 118,596
Notice both answers equal 118,596

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 118,596 and divide it by 2:

118,596 ÷ 2 = 59,298

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 59,298 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 59,298 118,596
-1 -2 -59,298 -118,596

Now, we try dividing 118,596 by 3:

118,596 ÷ 3 = 39,532

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 39,532 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 39,532 59,298 118,596
-1 -2 -3 -39,532 -59,298 -118,596

Let's try dividing by 4:

118,596 ÷ 4 = 29,649

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 29,649 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 29,649 39,532 59,298 118,596
-1 -2 -3 -4 -29,649 -39,532 -59,298 118,596
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346129,88319,76629,64939,53259,298118,596
-1-2-3-4-6-12-9,883-19,766-29,649-39,532-59,298-118,596

More Examples

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