Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 20,508,232?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 205082322 x 102541164 x 51270588 x 2563529947 x 216561894 x 108282707 x 75763788 x 5414
Negative: -1 x -20508232-2 x -10254116-4 x -5127058-8 x -2563529-947 x -21656-1894 x -10828-2707 x -7576-3788 x -5414


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 20,508,232?

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 20,508,232, 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 20,508,232
-1 -20,508,232

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 20,508,232.

Example:
1 x 20,508,232 = 20,508,232
and
-1 x -20,508,232 = 20,508,232
Notice both answers equal 20,508,232

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 20,508,232 and divide it by 2:

20,508,232 ÷ 2 = 10,254,116

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 10,254,116 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 10,254,116 20,508,232
-1 -2 -10,254,116 -20,508,232

Now, we try dividing 20,508,232 by 3:

20,508,232 ÷ 3 = 6,836,077.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 6,836,077.3333 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 10,254,116 20,508,232
-1 -2 -10,254,116 -20,508,232

Let's try dividing by 4:

20,508,232 ÷ 4 = 5,127,058

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 5,127,058 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 5,127,058 10,254,116 20,508,232
-1 -2 -4 -5,127,058 -10,254,116 20,508,232
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12489471,8942,7073,7885,4147,57610,82821,6562,563,5295,127,05810,254,11620,508,232
-1-2-4-8-947-1,894-2,707-3,788-5,414-7,576-10,828-21,656-2,563,529-5,127,058-10,254,116-20,508,232

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