Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 188,712?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1887122 x 943563 x 629044 x 471786 x 314528 x 235899 x 2096812 x 1572618 x 1048424 x 786336 x 524272 x 2621
Negative: -1 x -188712-2 x -94356-3 x -62904-4 x -47178-6 x -31452-8 x -23589-9 x -20968-12 x -15726-18 x -10484-24 x -7863-36 x -5242-72 x -2621


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 188,712?

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 188,712, 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.

1 188,712
-1 -188,712

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 188,712.

Example:
1 x 188,712 = 188,712
and
-1 x -188,712 = 188,712
Notice both answers equal 188,712

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 188,712 and divide it by 2:

188,712 ÷ 2 = 94,356

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 94,356 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 94,356 188,712
-1 -2 -94,356 -188,712

Now, we try dividing 188,712 by 3:

188,712 ÷ 3 = 62,904

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 62,904 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 62,904 94,356 188,712
-1 -2 -3 -62,904 -94,356 -188,712

Let's try dividing by 4:

188,712 ÷ 4 = 47,178

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 47,178 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 3 4 47,178 62,904 94,356 188,712
-1 -2 -3 -4 -47,178 -62,904 -94,356 188,712
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468912182436722,6215,2427,86310,48415,72620,96823,58931,45247,17862,90494,356188,712
-1-2-3-4-6-8-9-12-18-24-36-72-2,621-5,242-7,863-10,484-15,726-20,968-23,589-31,452-47,178-62,904-94,356-188,712

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