Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 321,864?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3218642 x 1609323 x 1072884 x 804666 x 536448 x 4023312 x 2682224 x 13411
Negative: -1 x -321864-2 x -160932-3 x -107288-4 x -80466-6 x -53644-8 x -40233-12 x -26822-24 x -13411


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 321,864?

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 321,864, 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.

1 321,864
-1 -321,864

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 321,864.

Example:
1 x 321,864 = 321,864
and
-1 x -321,864 = 321,864
Notice both answers equal 321,864

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 321,864 and divide it by 2:

321,864 ÷ 2 = 160,932

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 160,932 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 2 160,932 321,864
-1 -2 -160,932 -321,864

Now, we try dividing 321,864 by 3:

321,864 ÷ 3 = 107,288

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 107,288 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 3 107,288 160,932 321,864
-1 -2 -3 -107,288 -160,932 -321,864

Let's try dividing by 4:

321,864 ÷ 4 = 80,466

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 80,466 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 80,466 107,288 160,932 321,864
-1 -2 -3 -4 -80,466 -107,288 -160,932 321,864
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122413,41126,82240,23353,64480,466107,288160,932321,864
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-13,411-26,822-40,233-53,644-80,466-107,288-160,932-321,864

More Examples

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