Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 23,148?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 231482 x 115743 x 77164 x 57876 x 38589 x 257212 x 192918 x 128636 x 643
Negative: -1 x -23148-2 x -11574-3 x -7716-4 x -5787-6 x -3858-9 x -2572-12 x -1929-18 x -1286-36 x -643


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 23,148?

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 23,148, 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 23,148
-1 -23,148

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 23,148.

Example:
1 x 23,148 = 23,148
and
-1 x -23,148 = 23,148
Notice both answers equal 23,148

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 23,148 and divide it by 2:

23,148 ÷ 2 = 11,574

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 11,574 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 11,574 23,148
-1 -2 -11,574 -23,148

Now, we try dividing 23,148 by 3:

23,148 ÷ 3 = 7,716

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 7,716 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 7,716 11,574 23,148
-1 -2 -3 -7,716 -11,574 -23,148

Let's try dividing by 4:

23,148 ÷ 4 = 5,787

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 5,787 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 5,787 7,716 11,574 23,148
-1 -2 -3 -4 -5,787 -7,716 -11,574 23,148
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234691218366431,2861,9292,5723,8585,7877,71611,57423,148
-1-2-3-4-6-9-12-18-36-643-1,286-1,929-2,572-3,858-5,787-7,716-11,574-23,148

More Examples

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