Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 215,304?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2153042 x 1076523 x 717684 x 538266 x 358848 x 2691312 x 1794224 x 8971
Negative: -1 x -215304-2 x -107652-3 x -71768-4 x -53826-6 x -35884-8 x -26913-12 x -17942-24 x -8971


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 215,304?

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 215,304, 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.

1 215,304
-1 -215,304

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 215,304.

Example:
1 x 215,304 = 215,304
and
-1 x -215,304 = 215,304
Notice both answers equal 215,304

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 215,304 and divide it by 2:

215,304 ÷ 2 = 107,652

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 107,652 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 2 107,652 215,304
-1 -2 -107,652 -215,304

Now, we try dividing 215,304 by 3:

215,304 ÷ 3 = 71,768

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 71,768 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 71,768 107,652 215,304
-1 -2 -3 -71,768 -107,652 -215,304

Let's try dividing by 4:

215,304 ÷ 4 = 53,826

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 53,826 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 53,826 71,768 107,652 215,304
-1 -2 -3 -4 -53,826 -71,768 -107,652 215,304
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346812248,97117,94226,91335,88453,82671,768107,652215,304
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-8,971-17,942-26,913-35,884-53,826-71,768-107,652-215,304

More Examples

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