Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 326,532?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3265322 x 1632663 x 1088444 x 816336 x 5442212 x 27211
Negative: -1 x -326532-2 x -163266-3 x -108844-4 x -81633-6 x -54422-12 x -27211


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 326,532?

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 326,532, 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.

1 326,532
-1 -326,532

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 326,532.

Example:
1 x 326,532 = 326,532
and
-1 x -326,532 = 326,532
Notice both answers equal 326,532

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 326,532 and divide it by 2:

326,532 ÷ 2 = 163,266

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 163,266 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 2 163,266 326,532
-1 -2 -163,266 -326,532

Now, we try dividing 326,532 by 3:

326,532 ÷ 3 = 108,844

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 108,844 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 3 108,844 163,266 326,532
-1 -2 -3 -108,844 -163,266 -326,532

Let's try dividing by 4:

326,532 ÷ 4 = 81,633

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 81,633 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 81,633 108,844 163,266 326,532
-1 -2 -3 -4 -81,633 -108,844 -163,266 326,532
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461227,21154,42281,633108,844163,266326,532
-1-2-3-4-6-12-27,211-54,422-81,633-108,844-163,266-326,532

More Examples

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