Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 296,232?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2962322 x 1481163 x 987444 x 740586 x 493728 x 3702912 x 2468624 x 12343
Negative: -1 x -296232-2 x -148116-3 x -98744-4 x -74058-6 x -49372-8 x -37029-12 x -24686-24 x -12343


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 296,232?

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 296,232, 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.

1 296,232
-1 -296,232

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 296,232.

Example:
1 x 296,232 = 296,232
and
-1 x -296,232 = 296,232
Notice both answers equal 296,232

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 296,232 and divide it by 2:

296,232 ÷ 2 = 148,116

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 148,116 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 2 148,116 296,232
-1 -2 -148,116 -296,232

Now, we try dividing 296,232 by 3:

296,232 ÷ 3 = 98,744

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 98,744 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 98,744 148,116 296,232
-1 -2 -3 -98,744 -148,116 -296,232

Let's try dividing by 4:

296,232 ÷ 4 = 74,058

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 74,058 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 74,058 98,744 148,116 296,232
-1 -2 -3 -4 -74,058 -98,744 -148,116 296,232
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122412,34324,68637,02949,37274,05898,744148,116296,232
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-12,343-24,686-37,029-49,372-74,058-98,744-148,116-296,232

More Examples

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