Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 171,083,876?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1710838762 x 855419384 x 4277096929 x 589944458 x 2949722116 x 1474861
Negative: -1 x -171083876-2 x -85541938-4 x -42770969-29 x -5899444-58 x -2949722-116 x -1474861


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 171,083,876?

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 171,083,876, 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.

1 171,083,876
-1 -171,083,876

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 171,083,876.

Example:
1 x 171,083,876 = 171,083,876
and
-1 x -171,083,876 = 171,083,876
Notice both answers equal 171,083,876

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 171,083,876 and divide it by 2:

171,083,876 ÷ 2 = 85,541,938

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 85,541,938 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 85,541,938 171,083,876
-1 -2 -85,541,938 -171,083,876

Now, we try dividing 171,083,876 by 3:

171,083,876 ÷ 3 = 57,027,958.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 57,027,958.6667 are factors. In this case, the quotient is not a whole number. Don't write anything down and try the next divisor.

Here is what our table should look like at this step:

1 2 85,541,938 171,083,876
-1 -2 -85,541,938 -171,083,876

Let's try dividing by 4:

171,083,876 ÷ 4 = 42,770,969

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 42,770,969 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 4 42,770,969 85,541,938 171,083,876
-1 -2 -4 -42,770,969 -85,541,938 171,083,876
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12429581161,474,8612,949,7225,899,44442,770,96985,541,938171,083,876
-1-2-4-29-58-116-1,474,861-2,949,722-5,899,444-42,770,969-85,541,938-171,083,876

More Examples

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