Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 256,561,216?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2565612162 x 1282806084 x 641403048 x 3207015216 x 1603507632 x 801753864 x 4008769
Negative: -1 x -256561216-2 x -128280608-4 x -64140304-8 x -32070152-16 x -16035076-32 x -8017538-64 x -4008769


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 256,561,216?

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 256,561,216, 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.

1 256,561,216
-1 -256,561,216

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 256,561,216.

Example:
1 x 256,561,216 = 256,561,216
and
-1 x -256,561,216 = 256,561,216
Notice both answers equal 256,561,216

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 256,561,216 and divide it by 2:

256,561,216 ÷ 2 = 128,280,608

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 128,280,608 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 2 128,280,608 256,561,216
-1 -2 -128,280,608 -256,561,216

Now, we try dividing 256,561,216 by 3:

256,561,216 ÷ 3 = 85,520,405.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 85,520,405.3333 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 2 128,280,608 256,561,216
-1 -2 -128,280,608 -256,561,216

Let's try dividing by 4:

256,561,216 ÷ 4 = 64,140,304

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 64,140,304 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 64,140,304 128,280,608 256,561,216
-1 -2 -4 -64,140,304 -128,280,608 256,561,216
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12481632644,008,7698,017,53816,035,07632,070,15264,140,304128,280,608256,561,216
-1-2-4-8-16-32-64-4,008,769-8,017,538-16,035,076-32,070,152-64,140,304-128,280,608-256,561,216

More Examples

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