Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 318,156?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3181562 x 1590783 x 1060524 x 795396 x 5302612 x 26513
Negative: -1 x -318156-2 x -159078-3 x -106052-4 x -79539-6 x -53026-12 x -26513


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 318,156?

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 318,156, 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.

1 318,156
-1 -318,156

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 318,156.

Example:
1 x 318,156 = 318,156
and
-1 x -318,156 = 318,156
Notice both answers equal 318,156

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 318,156 and divide it by 2:

318,156 ÷ 2 = 159,078

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 159,078 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 2 159,078 318,156
-1 -2 -159,078 -318,156

Now, we try dividing 318,156 by 3:

318,156 ÷ 3 = 106,052

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 106,052 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 3 106,052 159,078 318,156
-1 -2 -3 -106,052 -159,078 -318,156

Let's try dividing by 4:

318,156 ÷ 4 = 79,539

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 79,539 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 79,539 106,052 159,078 318,156
-1 -2 -3 -4 -79,539 -106,052 -159,078 318,156
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461226,51353,02679,539106,052159,078318,156
-1-2-3-4-6-12-26,513-53,026-79,539-106,052-159,078-318,156

More Examples

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