Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 31,272?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 312722 x 156363 x 104244 x 78186 x 52128 x 390912 x 260624 x 1303
Negative: -1 x -31272-2 x -15636-3 x -10424-4 x -7818-6 x -5212-8 x -3909-12 x -2606-24 x -1303


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 31,272?

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 31,272, 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 31,272
-1 -31,272

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 31,272.

Example:
1 x 31,272 = 31,272
and
-1 x -31,272 = 31,272
Notice both answers equal 31,272

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 31,272 and divide it by 2:

31,272 ÷ 2 = 15,636

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 15,636 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 15,636 31,272
-1 -2 -15,636 -31,272

Now, we try dividing 31,272 by 3:

31,272 ÷ 3 = 10,424

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 10,424 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 10,424 15,636 31,272
-1 -2 -3 -10,424 -15,636 -31,272

Let's try dividing by 4:

31,272 ÷ 4 = 7,818

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 7,818 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 7,818 10,424 15,636 31,272
-1 -2 -3 -4 -7,818 -10,424 -15,636 31,272
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346812241,3032,6063,9095,2127,81810,42415,63631,272
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-1,303-2,606-3,909-5,212-7,818-10,424-15,636-31,272

More Examples

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