Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 278,196?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2781962 x 1390983 x 927324 x 695496 x 4636612 x 2318397 x 2868194 x 1434239 x 1164291 x 956388 x 717478 x 582
Negative: -1 x -278196-2 x -139098-3 x -92732-4 x -69549-6 x -46366-12 x -23183-97 x -2868-194 x -1434-239 x -1164-291 x -956-388 x -717-478 x -582


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 278,196?

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 278,196, 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.

1 278,196
-1 -278,196

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 278,196.

Example:
1 x 278,196 = 278,196
and
-1 x -278,196 = 278,196
Notice both answers equal 278,196

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 278,196 and divide it by 2:

278,196 ÷ 2 = 139,098

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 139,098 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 2 139,098 278,196
-1 -2 -139,098 -278,196

Now, we try dividing 278,196 by 3:

278,196 ÷ 3 = 92,732

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 92,732 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 92,732 139,098 278,196
-1 -2 -3 -92,732 -139,098 -278,196

Let's try dividing by 4:

278,196 ÷ 4 = 69,549

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 69,549 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 69,549 92,732 139,098 278,196
-1 -2 -3 -4 -69,549 -92,732 -139,098 278,196
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234612971942392913884785827179561,1641,4342,86823,18346,36669,54992,732139,098278,196
-1-2-3-4-6-12-97-194-239-291-388-478-582-717-956-1,164-1,434-2,868-23,183-46,366-69,549-92,732-139,098-278,196

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