Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 159,780?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1597802 x 798903 x 532604 x 399455 x 319566 x 2663010 x 1597812 x 1331515 x 1065220 x 798930 x 532660 x 2663
Negative: -1 x -159780-2 x -79890-3 x -53260-4 x -39945-5 x -31956-6 x -26630-10 x -15978-12 x -13315-15 x -10652-20 x -7989-30 x -5326-60 x -2663


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 159,780?

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 159,780, 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.

1 159,780
-1 -159,780

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 159,780.

Example:
1 x 159,780 = 159,780
and
-1 x -159,780 = 159,780
Notice both answers equal 159,780

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 159,780 and divide it by 2:

159,780 ÷ 2 = 79,890

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 79,890 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 79,890 159,780
-1 -2 -79,890 -159,780

Now, we try dividing 159,780 by 3:

159,780 ÷ 3 = 53,260

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 53,260 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 53,260 79,890 159,780
-1 -2 -3 -53,260 -79,890 -159,780

Let's try dividing by 4:

159,780 ÷ 4 = 39,945

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 39,945 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 39,945 53,260 79,890 159,780
-1 -2 -3 -4 -39,945 -53,260 -79,890 159,780
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234561012152030602,6635,3267,98910,65213,31515,97826,63031,95639,94553,26079,890159,780
-1-2-3-4-5-6-10-12-15-20-30-60-2,663-5,326-7,989-10,652-13,315-15,978-26,630-31,956-39,945-53,260-79,890-159,780

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