Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 198,972?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1989722 x 994863 x 663244 x 497436 x 331629 x 2210812 x 1658118 x 1105436 x 5527
Negative: -1 x -198972-2 x -99486-3 x -66324-4 x -49743-6 x -33162-9 x -22108-12 x -16581-18 x -11054-36 x -5527


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 198,972?

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 198,972, 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.

1 198,972
-1 -198,972

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 198,972.

Example:
1 x 198,972 = 198,972
and
-1 x -198,972 = 198,972
Notice both answers equal 198,972

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 198,972 and divide it by 2:

198,972 ÷ 2 = 99,486

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 99,486 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 99,486 198,972
-1 -2 -99,486 -198,972

Now, we try dividing 198,972 by 3:

198,972 ÷ 3 = 66,324

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 66,324 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 66,324 99,486 198,972
-1 -2 -3 -66,324 -99,486 -198,972

Let's try dividing by 4:

198,972 ÷ 4 = 49,743

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 49,743 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 49,743 66,324 99,486 198,972
-1 -2 -3 -4 -49,743 -66,324 -99,486 198,972
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234691218365,52711,05416,58122,10833,16249,74366,32499,486198,972
-1-2-3-4-6-9-12-18-36-5,527-11,054-16,581-22,108-33,162-49,743-66,324-99,486-198,972

More Examples

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