Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 12,576?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 125762 x 62883 x 41924 x 31446 x 20968 x 157212 x 104816 x 78624 x 52432 x 39348 x 26296 x 131
Negative: -1 x -12576-2 x -6288-3 x -4192-4 x -3144-6 x -2096-8 x -1572-12 x -1048-16 x -786-24 x -524-32 x -393-48 x -262-96 x -131


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 12,576?

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 12,576, 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 12,576
-1 -12,576

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 12,576.

Example:
1 x 12,576 = 12,576
and
-1 x -12,576 = 12,576
Notice both answers equal 12,576

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 12,576 and divide it by 2:

12,576 ÷ 2 = 6,288

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 6,288 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 6,288 12,576
-1 -2 -6,288 -12,576

Now, we try dividing 12,576 by 3:

12,576 ÷ 3 = 4,192

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 4,192 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 4,192 6,288 12,576
-1 -2 -3 -4,192 -6,288 -12,576

Let's try dividing by 4:

12,576 ÷ 4 = 3,144

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 3,144 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 3,144 4,192 6,288 12,576
-1 -2 -3 -4 -3,144 -4,192 -6,288 12,576
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234681216243248961312623935247861,0481,5722,0963,1444,1926,28812,576
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-16-24-32-48-96-131-262-393-524-786-1,048-1,572-2,096-3,144-4,192-6,288-12,576

More Examples

Here are some more numbers to try:

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