Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 131,356,278?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1313562782 x 656781393 x 437854266 x 218927139 x 1459514218 x 7297571
Negative: -1 x -131356278-2 x -65678139-3 x -43785426-6 x -21892713-9 x -14595142-18 x -7297571


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 131,356,278?

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 131,356,278, 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.

1 131,356,278
-1 -131,356,278

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 131,356,278.

Example:
1 x 131,356,278 = 131,356,278
and
-1 x -131,356,278 = 131,356,278
Notice both answers equal 131,356,278

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 131,356,278 and divide it by 2:

131,356,278 ÷ 2 = 65,678,139

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 65,678,139 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 65,678,139 131,356,278
-1 -2 -65,678,139 -131,356,278

Now, we try dividing 131,356,278 by 3:

131,356,278 ÷ 3 = 43,785,426

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 43,785,426 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 43,785,426 65,678,139 131,356,278
-1 -2 -3 -43,785,426 -65,678,139 -131,356,278

Let's try dividing by 4:

131,356,278 ÷ 4 = 32,839,069.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 32,839,069.5 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 3 43,785,426 65,678,139 131,356,278
-1 -2 -3 -43,785,426 -65,678,139 131,356,278
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12369187,297,57114,595,14221,892,71343,785,42665,678,139131,356,278
-1-2-3-6-9-18-7,297,571-14,595,142-21,892,713-43,785,426-65,678,139-131,356,278

More Examples

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