Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 259,672?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2596722 x 1298364 x 649187 x 370968 x 3245914 x 1854828 x 927456 x 4637
Negative: -1 x -259672-2 x -129836-4 x -64918-7 x -37096-8 x -32459-14 x -18548-28 x -9274-56 x -4637


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 259,672?

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 259,672, 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.

1 259,672
-1 -259,672

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 259,672.

Example:
1 x 259,672 = 259,672
and
-1 x -259,672 = 259,672
Notice both answers equal 259,672

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 259,672 and divide it by 2:

259,672 ÷ 2 = 129,836

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 129,836 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 2 129,836 259,672
-1 -2 -129,836 -259,672

Now, we try dividing 259,672 by 3:

259,672 ÷ 3 = 86,557.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 86,557.3333 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 2 129,836 259,672
-1 -2 -129,836 -259,672

Let's try dividing by 4:

259,672 ÷ 4 = 64,918

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 64,918 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 64,918 129,836 259,672
-1 -2 -4 -64,918 -129,836 259,672
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124781428564,6379,27418,54832,45937,09664,918129,836259,672
-1-2-4-7-8-14-28-56-4,637-9,274-18,548-32,459-37,096-64,918-129,836-259,672

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