Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 20,251,384?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 202513842 x 101256924 x 50628468 x 2531423
Negative: -1 x -20251384-2 x -10125692-4 x -5062846-8 x -2531423


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 20,251,384?

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 20,251,384, 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 20,251,384
-1 -20,251,384

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 20,251,384.

Example:
1 x 20,251,384 = 20,251,384
and
-1 x -20,251,384 = 20,251,384
Notice both answers equal 20,251,384

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 20,251,384 and divide it by 2:

20,251,384 ÷ 2 = 10,125,692

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 10,125,692 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 10,125,692 20,251,384
-1 -2 -10,125,692 -20,251,384

Now, we try dividing 20,251,384 by 3:

20,251,384 ÷ 3 = 6,750,461.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 6,750,461.3333 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 10,125,692 20,251,384
-1 -2 -10,125,692 -20,251,384

Let's try dividing by 4:

20,251,384 ÷ 4 = 5,062,846

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 5,062,846 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 5,062,846 10,125,692 20,251,384
-1 -2 -4 -5,062,846 -10,125,692 20,251,384
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12482,531,4235,062,84610,125,69220,251,384
-1-2-4-8-2,531,423-5,062,846-10,125,692-20,251,384

More Examples

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