Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 255,231,520?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2552315202 x 1276157604 x 638078805 x 510463048 x 3190394010 x 2552315216 x 1595197020 x 1276157632 x 797598540 x 638078880 x 3190394160 x 1595197
Negative: -1 x -255231520-2 x -127615760-4 x -63807880-5 x -51046304-8 x -31903940-10 x -25523152-16 x -15951970-20 x -12761576-32 x -7975985-40 x -6380788-80 x -3190394-160 x -1595197


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 255,231,520?

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 255,231,520, 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.

1 255,231,520
-1 -255,231,520

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 255,231,520.

Example:
1 x 255,231,520 = 255,231,520
and
-1 x -255,231,520 = 255,231,520
Notice both answers equal 255,231,520

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 255,231,520 and divide it by 2:

255,231,520 ÷ 2 = 127,615,760

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 127,615,760 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 2 127,615,760 255,231,520
-1 -2 -127,615,760 -255,231,520

Now, we try dividing 255,231,520 by 3:

255,231,520 ÷ 3 = 85,077,173.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 85,077,173.3333 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 2 127,615,760 255,231,520
-1 -2 -127,615,760 -255,231,520

Let's try dividing by 4:

255,231,520 ÷ 4 = 63,807,880

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 63,807,880 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 4 63,807,880 127,615,760 255,231,520
-1 -2 -4 -63,807,880 -127,615,760 255,231,520
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124581016203240801601,595,1973,190,3946,380,7887,975,98512,761,57615,951,97025,523,15231,903,94051,046,30463,807,880127,615,760255,231,520
-1-2-4-5-8-10-16-20-32-40-80-160-1,595,197-3,190,394-6,380,788-7,975,985-12,761,576-15,951,970-25,523,152-31,903,940-51,046,304-63,807,880-127,615,760-255,231,520

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