Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 138,756?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1387562 x 693783 x 462524 x 346896 x 2312612 x 1156331 x 447662 x 223893 x 1492124 x 1119186 x 746372 x 373
Negative: -1 x -138756-2 x -69378-3 x -46252-4 x -34689-6 x -23126-12 x -11563-31 x -4476-62 x -2238-93 x -1492-124 x -1119-186 x -746-372 x -373


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 138,756?

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 138,756, 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.

1 138,756
-1 -138,756

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 138,756.

Example:
1 x 138,756 = 138,756
and
-1 x -138,756 = 138,756
Notice both answers equal 138,756

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 138,756 and divide it by 2:

138,756 ÷ 2 = 69,378

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 69,378 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 69,378 138,756
-1 -2 -69,378 -138,756

Now, we try dividing 138,756 by 3:

138,756 ÷ 3 = 46,252

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 46,252 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 46,252 69,378 138,756
-1 -2 -3 -46,252 -69,378 -138,756

Let's try dividing by 4:

138,756 ÷ 4 = 34,689

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 34,689 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 34,689 46,252 69,378 138,756
-1 -2 -3 -4 -34,689 -46,252 -69,378 138,756
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346123162931241863723737461,1191,4922,2384,47611,56323,12634,68946,25269,378138,756
-1-2-3-4-6-12-31-62-93-124-186-372-373-746-1,119-1,492-2,238-4,476-11,563-23,126-34,689-46,252-69,378-138,756

More Examples

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