Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 164,172?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1641722 x 820863 x 547244 x 410436 x 2736212 x 13681
Negative: -1 x -164172-2 x -82086-3 x -54724-4 x -41043-6 x -27362-12 x -13681


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 164,172?

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 164,172, 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.

1 164,172
-1 -164,172

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 164,172.

Example:
1 x 164,172 = 164,172
and
-1 x -164,172 = 164,172
Notice both answers equal 164,172

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 164,172 and divide it by 2:

164,172 ÷ 2 = 82,086

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 82,086 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 82,086 164,172
-1 -2 -82,086 -164,172

Now, we try dividing 164,172 by 3:

164,172 ÷ 3 = 54,724

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 54,724 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 54,724 82,086 164,172
-1 -2 -3 -54,724 -82,086 -164,172

Let's try dividing by 4:

164,172 ÷ 4 = 41,043

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 41,043 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 41,043 54,724 82,086 164,172
-1 -2 -3 -4 -41,043 -54,724 -82,086 164,172
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461213,68127,36241,04354,72482,086164,172
-1-2-3-4-6-12-13,681-27,362-41,043-54,724-82,086-164,172

More Examples

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