Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 188,356?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1883562 x 941784 x 470897 x 2690814 x 1345428 x 672731 x 607649 x 384462 x 303898 x 1922124 x 1519196 x 961217 x 868434 x 434
Negative: -1 x -188356-2 x -94178-4 x -47089-7 x -26908-14 x -13454-28 x -6727-31 x -6076-49 x -3844-62 x -3038-98 x -1922-124 x -1519-196 x -961-217 x -868-434 x -434


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 188,356?

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 188,356, 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.

1 188,356
-1 -188,356

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 188,356.

Example:
1 x 188,356 = 188,356
and
-1 x -188,356 = 188,356
Notice both answers equal 188,356

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 188,356 and divide it by 2:

188,356 ÷ 2 = 94,178

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 94,178 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 94,178 188,356
-1 -2 -94,178 -188,356

Now, we try dividing 188,356 by 3:

188,356 ÷ 3 = 62,785.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 62,785.3333 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 94,178 188,356
-1 -2 -94,178 -188,356

Let's try dividing by 4:

188,356 ÷ 4 = 47,089

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 47,089 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 4 47,089 94,178 188,356
-1 -2 -4 -47,089 -94,178 188,356
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12471428314962981241962174348689611,5191,9223,0383,8446,0766,72713,45426,90847,08994,178188,356
-1-2-4-7-14-28-31-49-62-98-124-196-217-434-868-961-1,519-1,922-3,038-3,844-6,076-6,727-13,454-26,908-47,089-94,178-188,356

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