Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 156,906?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1569062 x 784533 x 523026 x 261519 x 1743418 x 871723 x 682246 x 341169 x 2274138 x 1137207 x 758379 x 414
Negative: -1 x -156906-2 x -78453-3 x -52302-6 x -26151-9 x -17434-18 x -8717-23 x -6822-46 x -3411-69 x -2274-138 x -1137-207 x -758-379 x -414


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 156,906?

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 156,906, 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.

1 156,906
-1 -156,906

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 156,906.

Example:
1 x 156,906 = 156,906
and
-1 x -156,906 = 156,906
Notice both answers equal 156,906

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 156,906 and divide it by 2:

156,906 ÷ 2 = 78,453

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 78,453 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 78,453 156,906
-1 -2 -78,453 -156,906

Now, we try dividing 156,906 by 3:

156,906 ÷ 3 = 52,302

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 52,302 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 52,302 78,453 156,906
-1 -2 -3 -52,302 -78,453 -156,906

Let's try dividing by 4:

156,906 ÷ 4 = 39,226.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 39,226.5 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 52,302 78,453 156,906
-1 -2 -3 -52,302 -78,453 156,906
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12369182346691382073794147581,1372,2743,4116,8228,71717,43426,15152,30278,453156,906
-1-2-3-6-9-18-23-46-69-138-207-379-414-758-1,137-2,274-3,411-6,822-8,717-17,434-26,151-52,302-78,453-156,906

More Examples

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