Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 16,980?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 169802 x 84903 x 56604 x 42455 x 33966 x 283010 x 169812 x 141515 x 113220 x 84930 x 56660 x 283
Negative: -1 x -16980-2 x -8490-3 x -5660-4 x -4245-5 x -3396-6 x -2830-10 x -1698-12 x -1415-15 x -1132-20 x -849-30 x -566-60 x -283


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 16,980?

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 16,980, 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 16,980
-1 -16,980

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 16,980.

Example:
1 x 16,980 = 16,980
and
-1 x -16,980 = 16,980
Notice both answers equal 16,980

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 16,980 and divide it by 2:

16,980 ÷ 2 = 8,490

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 8,490 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 8,490 16,980
-1 -2 -8,490 -16,980

Now, we try dividing 16,980 by 3:

16,980 ÷ 3 = 5,660

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 5,660 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 5,660 8,490 16,980
-1 -2 -3 -5,660 -8,490 -16,980

Let's try dividing by 4:

16,980 ÷ 4 = 4,245

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 4,245 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 4,245 5,660 8,490 16,980
-1 -2 -3 -4 -4,245 -5,660 -8,490 16,980
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234561012152030602835668491,1321,4151,6982,8303,3964,2455,6608,49016,980
-1-2-3-4-5-6-10-12-15-20-30-60-283-566-849-1,132-1,415-1,698-2,830-3,396-4,245-5,660-8,490-16,980

More Examples

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