Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 186,870?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1868702 x 934353 x 622905 x 373746 x 3114510 x 1868715 x 1245830 x 6229
Negative: -1 x -186870-2 x -93435-3 x -62290-5 x -37374-6 x -31145-10 x -18687-15 x -12458-30 x -6229


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 186,870?

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 186,870, 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.

1 186,870
-1 -186,870

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 186,870.

Example:
1 x 186,870 = 186,870
and
-1 x -186,870 = 186,870
Notice both answers equal 186,870

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 186,870 and divide it by 2:

186,870 ÷ 2 = 93,435

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 93,435 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 93,435 186,870
-1 -2 -93,435 -186,870

Now, we try dividing 186,870 by 3:

186,870 ÷ 3 = 62,290

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 62,290 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 62,290 93,435 186,870
-1 -2 -3 -62,290 -93,435 -186,870

Let's try dividing by 4:

186,870 ÷ 4 = 46,717.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 46,717.5 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 2 3 62,290 93,435 186,870
-1 -2 -3 -62,290 -93,435 186,870
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123561015306,22912,45818,68731,14537,37462,29093,435186,870
-1-2-3-5-6-10-15-30-6,229-12,458-18,687-31,145-37,374-62,290-93,435-186,870

More Examples

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