Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 157,848?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1578482 x 789243 x 526164 x 394626 x 263088 x 1973112 x 1315424 x 6577
Negative: -1 x -157848-2 x -78924-3 x -52616-4 x -39462-6 x -26308-8 x -19731-12 x -13154-24 x -6577


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 157,848?

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 157,848, 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.

1 157,848
-1 -157,848

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 157,848.

Example:
1 x 157,848 = 157,848
and
-1 x -157,848 = 157,848
Notice both answers equal 157,848

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 157,848 and divide it by 2:

157,848 ÷ 2 = 78,924

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 78,924 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 78,924 157,848
-1 -2 -78,924 -157,848

Now, we try dividing 157,848 by 3:

157,848 ÷ 3 = 52,616

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 52,616 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 52,616 78,924 157,848
-1 -2 -3 -52,616 -78,924 -157,848

Let's try dividing by 4:

157,848 ÷ 4 = 39,462

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 39,462 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 39,462 52,616 78,924 157,848
-1 -2 -3 -4 -39,462 -52,616 -78,924 157,848
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346812246,57713,15419,73126,30839,46252,61678,924157,848
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-6,577-13,154-19,731-26,308-39,462-52,616-78,924-157,848

More Examples

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