Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 131,924?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1319242 x 659624 x 3298113 x 1014826 x 507443 x 306852 x 253759 x 223686 x 1534118 x 1118172 x 767236 x 559
Negative: -1 x -131924-2 x -65962-4 x -32981-13 x -10148-26 x -5074-43 x -3068-52 x -2537-59 x -2236-86 x -1534-118 x -1118-172 x -767-236 x -559


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 131,924?

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 131,924, 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.

1 131,924
-1 -131,924

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 131,924.

Example:
1 x 131,924 = 131,924
and
-1 x -131,924 = 131,924
Notice both answers equal 131,924

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 131,924 and divide it by 2:

131,924 ÷ 2 = 65,962

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 65,962 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 65,962 131,924
-1 -2 -65,962 -131,924

Now, we try dividing 131,924 by 3:

131,924 ÷ 3 = 43,974.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 43,974.6667 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 65,962 131,924
-1 -2 -65,962 -131,924

Let's try dividing by 4:

131,924 ÷ 4 = 32,981

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 32,981 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 32,981 65,962 131,924
-1 -2 -4 -32,981 -65,962 131,924
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1241326435259861181722365597671,1181,5342,2362,5373,0685,07410,14832,98165,962131,924
-1-2-4-13-26-43-52-59-86-118-172-236-559-767-1,118-1,534-2,236-2,537-3,068-5,074-10,148-32,981-65,962-131,924

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