Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 228,708,537?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2287085373 x 7623617941 x 557825771 x 3221247123 x 1859419213 x 10737492911 x 785678733 x 26189
Negative: -1 x -228708537-3 x -76236179-41 x -5578257-71 x -3221247-123 x -1859419-213 x -1073749-2911 x -78567-8733 x -26189


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 228,708,537?

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 228,708,537, 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.

1 228,708,537
-1 -228,708,537

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 228,708,537.

Example:
1 x 228,708,537 = 228,708,537
and
-1 x -228,708,537 = 228,708,537
Notice both answers equal 228,708,537

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 228,708,537 and divide it by 2:

228,708,537 ÷ 2 = 114,354,268.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 114,354,268.5 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:

1 228,708,537
-1 -228,708,537

Now, we try dividing 228,708,537 by 3:

228,708,537 ÷ 3 = 76,236,179

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 76,236,179 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 3 76,236,179 228,708,537
-1 -3 -76,236,179 -228,708,537

Let's try dividing by 4:

228,708,537 ÷ 4 = 57,177,134.25

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 57,177,134.25 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 3 76,236,179 228,708,537
-1 -3 -76,236,179 228,708,537
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1341711232132,9118,73326,18978,5671,073,7491,859,4193,221,2475,578,25776,236,179228,708,537
-1-3-41-71-123-213-2,911-8,733-26,189-78,567-1,073,749-1,859,419-3,221,247-5,578,257-76,236,179-228,708,537

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