Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 257,496?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2574962 x 1287483 x 858324 x 643746 x 429168 x 3218712 x 2145824 x 10729
Negative: -1 x -257496-2 x -128748-3 x -85832-4 x -64374-6 x -42916-8 x -32187-12 x -21458-24 x -10729


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 257,496?

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 257,496, 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.

1 257,496
-1 -257,496

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 257,496.

Example:
1 x 257,496 = 257,496
and
-1 x -257,496 = 257,496
Notice both answers equal 257,496

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 257,496 and divide it by 2:

257,496 ÷ 2 = 128,748

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 128,748 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 2 128,748 257,496
-1 -2 -128,748 -257,496

Now, we try dividing 257,496 by 3:

257,496 ÷ 3 = 85,832

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 85,832 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 85,832 128,748 257,496
-1 -2 -3 -85,832 -128,748 -257,496

Let's try dividing by 4:

257,496 ÷ 4 = 64,374

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 64,374 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 64,374 85,832 128,748 257,496
-1 -2 -3 -4 -64,374 -85,832 -128,748 257,496
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122410,72921,45832,18742,91664,37485,832128,748257,496
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-10,729-21,458-32,187-42,916-64,374-85,832-128,748-257,496

More Examples

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