Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 232,284?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2322842 x 1161423 x 774284 x 580716 x 3871412 x 1935713 x 1786826 x 893439 x 595652 x 446778 x 2978156 x 1489
Negative: -1 x -232284-2 x -116142-3 x -77428-4 x -58071-6 x -38714-12 x -19357-13 x -17868-26 x -8934-39 x -5956-52 x -4467-78 x -2978-156 x -1489


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 232,284?

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 232,284, 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.

1 232,284
-1 -232,284

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 232,284.

Example:
1 x 232,284 = 232,284
and
-1 x -232,284 = 232,284
Notice both answers equal 232,284

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 232,284 and divide it by 2:

232,284 ÷ 2 = 116,142

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 116,142 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 2 116,142 232,284
-1 -2 -116,142 -232,284

Now, we try dividing 232,284 by 3:

232,284 ÷ 3 = 77,428

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 77,428 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 77,428 116,142 232,284
-1 -2 -3 -77,428 -116,142 -232,284

Let's try dividing by 4:

232,284 ÷ 4 = 58,071

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 58,071 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 58,071 77,428 116,142 232,284
-1 -2 -3 -4 -58,071 -77,428 -116,142 232,284
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461213263952781561,4892,9784,4675,9568,93417,86819,35738,71458,07177,428116,142232,284
-1-2-3-4-6-12-13-26-39-52-78-156-1,489-2,978-4,467-5,956-8,934-17,868-19,357-38,714-58,071-77,428-116,142-232,284

More Examples

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