Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 173,004?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1730042 x 865023 x 576684 x 432516 x 2883412 x 1441713 x 1330826 x 665439 x 443652 x 332778 x 2218156 x 1109
Negative: -1 x -173004-2 x -86502-3 x -57668-4 x -43251-6 x -28834-12 x -14417-13 x -13308-26 x -6654-39 x -4436-52 x -3327-78 x -2218-156 x -1109


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 173,004?

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 173,004, 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.

1 173,004
-1 -173,004

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 173,004.

Example:
1 x 173,004 = 173,004
and
-1 x -173,004 = 173,004
Notice both answers equal 173,004

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 173,004 and divide it by 2:

173,004 ÷ 2 = 86,502

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 86,502 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 86,502 173,004
-1 -2 -86,502 -173,004

Now, we try dividing 173,004 by 3:

173,004 ÷ 3 = 57,668

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 57,668 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 57,668 86,502 173,004
-1 -2 -3 -57,668 -86,502 -173,004

Let's try dividing by 4:

173,004 ÷ 4 = 43,251

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 43,251 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 43,251 57,668 86,502 173,004
-1 -2 -3 -4 -43,251 -57,668 -86,502 173,004
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461213263952781561,1092,2183,3274,4366,65413,30814,41728,83443,25157,66886,502173,004
-1-2-3-4-6-12-13-26-39-52-78-156-1,109-2,218-3,327-4,436-6,654-13,308-14,417-28,834-43,251-57,668-86,502-173,004

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