Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 172,160?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1721602 x 860804 x 430405 x 344328 x 2152010 x 1721616 x 1076020 x 860832 x 538040 x 430464 x 269080 x 2152128 x 1345160 x 1076269 x 640320 x 538
Negative: -1 x -172160-2 x -86080-4 x -43040-5 x -34432-8 x -21520-10 x -17216-16 x -10760-20 x -8608-32 x -5380-40 x -4304-64 x -2690-80 x -2152-128 x -1345-160 x -1076-269 x -640-320 x -538


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 172,160?

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 172,160, 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.

1 172,160
-1 -172,160

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 172,160.

Example:
1 x 172,160 = 172,160
and
-1 x -172,160 = 172,160
Notice both answers equal 172,160

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 172,160 and divide it by 2:

172,160 ÷ 2 = 86,080

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 86,080 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 86,080 172,160
-1 -2 -86,080 -172,160

Now, we try dividing 172,160 by 3:

172,160 ÷ 3 = 57,386.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 57,386.6667 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 86,080 172,160
-1 -2 -86,080 -172,160

Let's try dividing by 4:

172,160 ÷ 4 = 43,040

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 43,040 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 43,040 86,080 172,160
-1 -2 -4 -43,040 -86,080 172,160
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12458101620324064801281602693205386401,0761,3452,1522,6904,3045,3808,60810,76017,21621,52034,43243,04086,080172,160
-1-2-4-5-8-10-16-20-32-40-64-80-128-160-269-320-538-640-1,076-1,345-2,152-2,690-4,304-5,380-8,608-10,760-17,216-21,520-34,432-43,040-86,080-172,160

More Examples

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