Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 256,864?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2568642 x 1284324 x 642168 x 3210816 x 1605423 x 1116832 x 802746 x 558492 x 2792184 x 1396349 x 736368 x 698
Negative: -1 x -256864-2 x -128432-4 x -64216-8 x -32108-16 x -16054-23 x -11168-32 x -8027-46 x -5584-92 x -2792-184 x -1396-349 x -736-368 x -698


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 256,864?

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 256,864, 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.

1 256,864
-1 -256,864

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 256,864.

Example:
1 x 256,864 = 256,864
and
-1 x -256,864 = 256,864
Notice both answers equal 256,864

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 256,864 and divide it by 2:

256,864 ÷ 2 = 128,432

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 128,432 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 2 128,432 256,864
-1 -2 -128,432 -256,864

Now, we try dividing 256,864 by 3:

256,864 ÷ 3 = 85,621.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 85,621.3333 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 2 128,432 256,864
-1 -2 -128,432 -256,864

Let's try dividing by 4:

256,864 ÷ 4 = 64,216

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 64,216 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 64,216 128,432 256,864
-1 -2 -4 -64,216 -128,432 256,864
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124816233246921843493686987361,3962,7925,5848,02711,16816,05432,10864,216128,432256,864
-1-2-4-8-16-23-32-46-92-184-349-368-698-736-1,396-2,792-5,584-8,027-11,168-16,054-32,108-64,216-128,432-256,864

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