Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 158,556?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1585562 x 792783 x 528524 x 396396 x 2642612 x 1321373 x 2172146 x 1086181 x 876219 x 724292 x 543362 x 438
Negative: -1 x -158556-2 x -79278-3 x -52852-4 x -39639-6 x -26426-12 x -13213-73 x -2172-146 x -1086-181 x -876-219 x -724-292 x -543-362 x -438


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 158,556?

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 158,556, 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.

1 158,556
-1 -158,556

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 158,556.

Example:
1 x 158,556 = 158,556
and
-1 x -158,556 = 158,556
Notice both answers equal 158,556

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 158,556 and divide it by 2:

158,556 ÷ 2 = 79,278

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 79,278 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 79,278 158,556
-1 -2 -79,278 -158,556

Now, we try dividing 158,556 by 3:

158,556 ÷ 3 = 52,852

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 52,852 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 52,852 79,278 158,556
-1 -2 -3 -52,852 -79,278 -158,556

Let's try dividing by 4:

158,556 ÷ 4 = 39,639

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 39,639 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 39,639 52,852 79,278 158,556
-1 -2 -3 -4 -39,639 -52,852 -79,278 158,556
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234612731461812192923624385437248761,0862,17213,21326,42639,63952,85279,278158,556
-1-2-3-4-6-12-73-146-181-219-292-362-438-543-724-876-1,086-2,172-13,213-26,426-39,639-52,852-79,278-158,556

More Examples

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