Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 156,588?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1565882 x 782943 x 521964 x 391476 x 2609812 x 13049
Negative: -1 x -156588-2 x -78294-3 x -52196-4 x -39147-6 x -26098-12 x -13049


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 156,588?

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 156,588, 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.

1 156,588
-1 -156,588

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 156,588.

Example:
1 x 156,588 = 156,588
and
-1 x -156,588 = 156,588
Notice both answers equal 156,588

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 156,588 and divide it by 2:

156,588 ÷ 2 = 78,294

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 78,294 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 78,294 156,588
-1 -2 -78,294 -156,588

Now, we try dividing 156,588 by 3:

156,588 ÷ 3 = 52,196

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 52,196 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 52,196 78,294 156,588
-1 -2 -3 -52,196 -78,294 -156,588

Let's try dividing by 4:

156,588 ÷ 4 = 39,147

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 39,147 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 39,147 52,196 78,294 156,588
-1 -2 -3 -4 -39,147 -52,196 -78,294 156,588
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461213,04926,09839,14752,19678,294156,588
-1-2-3-4-6-12-13,049-26,098-39,147-52,196-78,294-156,588

More Examples

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