Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 178,212?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1782122 x 891063 x 594044 x 445536 x 2970212 x 14851
Negative: -1 x -178212-2 x -89106-3 x -59404-4 x -44553-6 x -29702-12 x -14851


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 178,212?

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 178,212, 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.

1 178,212
-1 -178,212

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 178,212.

Example:
1 x 178,212 = 178,212
and
-1 x -178,212 = 178,212
Notice both answers equal 178,212

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 178,212 and divide it by 2:

178,212 ÷ 2 = 89,106

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 89,106 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 89,106 178,212
-1 -2 -89,106 -178,212

Now, we try dividing 178,212 by 3:

178,212 ÷ 3 = 59,404

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 59,404 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 59,404 89,106 178,212
-1 -2 -3 -59,404 -89,106 -178,212

Let's try dividing by 4:

178,212 ÷ 4 = 44,553

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 44,553 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 44,553 59,404 89,106 178,212
-1 -2 -3 -4 -44,553 -59,404 -89,106 178,212
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461214,85129,70244,55359,40489,106178,212
-1-2-3-4-6-12-14,851-29,702-44,553-59,404-89,106-178,212

More Examples

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