Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 161,256?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1612562 x 806283 x 537524 x 403146 x 268768 x 2015712 x 1343824 x 6719
Negative: -1 x -161256-2 x -80628-3 x -53752-4 x -40314-6 x -26876-8 x -20157-12 x -13438-24 x -6719


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 161,256?

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 161,256, 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.

1 161,256
-1 -161,256

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 161,256.

Example:
1 x 161,256 = 161,256
and
-1 x -161,256 = 161,256
Notice both answers equal 161,256

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 161,256 and divide it by 2:

161,256 ÷ 2 = 80,628

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 80,628 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 80,628 161,256
-1 -2 -80,628 -161,256

Now, we try dividing 161,256 by 3:

161,256 ÷ 3 = 53,752

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 53,752 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 53,752 80,628 161,256
-1 -2 -3 -53,752 -80,628 -161,256

Let's try dividing by 4:

161,256 ÷ 4 = 40,314

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 40,314 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 40,314 53,752 80,628 161,256
-1 -2 -3 -4 -40,314 -53,752 -80,628 161,256
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346812246,71913,43820,15726,87640,31453,75280,628161,256
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-6,719-13,438-20,157-26,876-40,314-53,752-80,628-161,256

More Examples

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