Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 323,248?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3232482 x 1616244 x 808128 x 4040616 x 2020389 x 3632178 x 1816227 x 1424356 x 908454 x 712
Negative: -1 x -323248-2 x -161624-4 x -80812-8 x -40406-16 x -20203-89 x -3632-178 x -1816-227 x -1424-356 x -908-454 x -712


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 323,248?

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 323,248, 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.

1 323,248
-1 -323,248

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 323,248.

Example:
1 x 323,248 = 323,248
and
-1 x -323,248 = 323,248
Notice both answers equal 323,248

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 323,248 and divide it by 2:

323,248 ÷ 2 = 161,624

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 161,624 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 2 161,624 323,248
-1 -2 -161,624 -323,248

Now, we try dividing 323,248 by 3:

323,248 ÷ 3 = 107,749.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 107,749.3333 are factors. In this case, the quotient is not a whole number. Don't write anything down and try the next divisor.

Here is what our table should look like at this step:

1 2 161,624 323,248
-1 -2 -161,624 -323,248

Let's try dividing by 4:

323,248 ÷ 4 = 80,812

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 80,812 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 4 80,812 161,624 323,248
-1 -2 -4 -80,812 -161,624 323,248
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124816891782273564547129081,4241,8163,63220,20340,40680,812161,624323,248
-1-2-4-8-16-89-178-227-356-454-712-908-1,424-1,816-3,632-20,203-40,406-80,812-161,624-323,248

More Examples

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