Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 17,292?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 172922 x 86463 x 57644 x 43236 x 288211 x 157212 x 144122 x 78633 x 52444 x 39366 x 262131 x 132
Negative: -1 x -17292-2 x -8646-3 x -5764-4 x -4323-6 x -2882-11 x -1572-12 x -1441-22 x -786-33 x -524-44 x -393-66 x -262-131 x -132


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 17,292?

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 17,292, 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 17,292
-1 -17,292

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 17,292.

Example:
1 x 17,292 = 17,292
and
-1 x -17,292 = 17,292
Notice both answers equal 17,292

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 17,292 and divide it by 2:

17,292 ÷ 2 = 8,646

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 8,646 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 8,646 17,292
-1 -2 -8,646 -17,292

Now, we try dividing 17,292 by 3:

17,292 ÷ 3 = 5,764

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 5,764 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 5,764 8,646 17,292
-1 -2 -3 -5,764 -8,646 -17,292

Let's try dividing by 4:

17,292 ÷ 4 = 4,323

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 4,323 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 4,323 5,764 8,646 17,292
-1 -2 -3 -4 -4,323 -5,764 -8,646 17,292
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461112223344661311322623935247861,4411,5722,8824,3235,7648,64617,292
-1-2-3-4-6-11-12-22-33-44-66-131-132-262-393-524-786-1,441-1,572-2,882-4,323-5,764-8,646-17,292

More Examples

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