Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 17,234,645?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 172346455 x 3446929389 x 443051945 x 8861
Negative: -1 x -17234645-5 x -3446929-389 x -44305-1945 x -8861


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 17,234,645?

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 17,234,645, 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 17,234,645
-1 -17,234,645

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 17,234,645.

Example:
1 x 17,234,645 = 17,234,645
and
-1 x -17,234,645 = 17,234,645
Notice both answers equal 17,234,645

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 17,234,645 and divide it by 2:

17,234,645 ÷ 2 = 8,617,322.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 8,617,322.5 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 17,234,645
-1 -17,234,645

Now, we try dividing 17,234,645 by 3:

17,234,645 ÷ 3 = 5,744,881.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 5,744,881.6667 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 17,234,645
-1 -17,234,645

Let's try dividing by 4:

17,234,645 ÷ 4 = 4,308,661.25

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 4,308,661.25 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 17,234,645
-1 17,234,645
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

153891,9458,86144,3053,446,92917,234,645
-1-5-389-1,945-8,861-44,305-3,446,929-17,234,645

More Examples

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