Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 217,386?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2173862 x 1086933 x 724626 x 362319 x 2415413 x 1672218 x 1207726 x 836139 x 557478 x 2787117 x 1858234 x 929
Negative: -1 x -217386-2 x -108693-3 x -72462-6 x -36231-9 x -24154-13 x -16722-18 x -12077-26 x -8361-39 x -5574-78 x -2787-117 x -1858-234 x -929


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 217,386?

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 217,386, 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.

1 217,386
-1 -217,386

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 217,386.

Example:
1 x 217,386 = 217,386
and
-1 x -217,386 = 217,386
Notice both answers equal 217,386

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 217,386 and divide it by 2:

217,386 ÷ 2 = 108,693

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 108,693 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 2 108,693 217,386
-1 -2 -108,693 -217,386

Now, we try dividing 217,386 by 3:

217,386 ÷ 3 = 72,462

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 72,462 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 72,462 108,693 217,386
-1 -2 -3 -72,462 -108,693 -217,386

Let's try dividing by 4:

217,386 ÷ 4 = 54,346.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 54,346.5 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 3 72,462 108,693 217,386
-1 -2 -3 -72,462 -108,693 217,386
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1236913182639781172349291,8582,7875,5748,36112,07716,72224,15436,23172,462108,693217,386
-1-2-3-6-9-13-18-26-39-78-117-234-929-1,858-2,787-5,574-8,361-12,077-16,722-24,154-36,231-72,462-108,693-217,386

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