Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 168,984?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1689842 x 844923 x 563284 x 422466 x 281648 x 211239 x 1877612 x 1408218 x 938824 x 704136 x 469472 x 2347
Negative: -1 x -168984-2 x -84492-3 x -56328-4 x -42246-6 x -28164-8 x -21123-9 x -18776-12 x -14082-18 x -9388-24 x -7041-36 x -4694-72 x -2347


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 168,984?

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 168,984, 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.

1 168,984
-1 -168,984

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 168,984.

Example:
1 x 168,984 = 168,984
and
-1 x -168,984 = 168,984
Notice both answers equal 168,984

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 168,984 and divide it by 2:

168,984 ÷ 2 = 84,492

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 84,492 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 84,492 168,984
-1 -2 -84,492 -168,984

Now, we try dividing 168,984 by 3:

168,984 ÷ 3 = 56,328

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 56,328 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 56,328 84,492 168,984
-1 -2 -3 -56,328 -84,492 -168,984

Let's try dividing by 4:

168,984 ÷ 4 = 42,246

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 42,246 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 42,246 56,328 84,492 168,984
-1 -2 -3 -4 -42,246 -56,328 -84,492 168,984
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468912182436722,3474,6947,0419,38814,08218,77621,12328,16442,24656,32884,492168,984
-1-2-3-4-6-8-9-12-18-24-36-72-2,347-4,694-7,041-9,388-14,082-18,776-21,123-28,164-42,246-56,328-84,492-168,984

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