Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 172,865,604?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1728656042 x 864328023 x 576218684 x 432164016 x 2881093412 x 14405467
Negative: -1 x -172865604-2 x -86432802-3 x -57621868-4 x -43216401-6 x -28810934-12 x -14405467


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 172,865,604?

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 172,865,604, 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.

1 172,865,604
-1 -172,865,604

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 172,865,604.

Example:
1 x 172,865,604 = 172,865,604
and
-1 x -172,865,604 = 172,865,604
Notice both answers equal 172,865,604

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 172,865,604 and divide it by 2:

172,865,604 ÷ 2 = 86,432,802

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 86,432,802 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 86,432,802 172,865,604
-1 -2 -86,432,802 -172,865,604

Now, we try dividing 172,865,604 by 3:

172,865,604 ÷ 3 = 57,621,868

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 57,621,868 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 57,621,868 86,432,802 172,865,604
-1 -2 -3 -57,621,868 -86,432,802 -172,865,604

Let's try dividing by 4:

172,865,604 ÷ 4 = 43,216,401

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 43,216,401 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 43,216,401 57,621,868 86,432,802 172,865,604
-1 -2 -3 -4 -43,216,401 -57,621,868 -86,432,802 172,865,604
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461214,405,46728,810,93443,216,40157,621,86886,432,802172,865,604
-1-2-3-4-6-12-14,405,467-28,810,934-43,216,401-57,621,868-86,432,802-172,865,604

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