Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 326,856?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3268562 x 1634283 x 1089524 x 817146 x 544768 x 4085712 x 2723824 x 13619
Negative: -1 x -326856-2 x -163428-3 x -108952-4 x -81714-6 x -54476-8 x -40857-12 x -27238-24 x -13619


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 326,856?

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 326,856, 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.

1 326,856
-1 -326,856

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 326,856.

Example:
1 x 326,856 = 326,856
and
-1 x -326,856 = 326,856
Notice both answers equal 326,856

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 326,856 and divide it by 2:

326,856 ÷ 2 = 163,428

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 163,428 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 2 163,428 326,856
-1 -2 -163,428 -326,856

Now, we try dividing 326,856 by 3:

326,856 ÷ 3 = 108,952

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 108,952 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 3 108,952 163,428 326,856
-1 -2 -3 -108,952 -163,428 -326,856

Let's try dividing by 4:

326,856 ÷ 4 = 81,714

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 81,714 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 81,714 108,952 163,428 326,856
-1 -2 -3 -4 -81,714 -108,952 -163,428 326,856
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122413,61927,23840,85754,47681,714108,952163,428326,856
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-13,619-27,238-40,857-54,476-81,714-108,952-163,428-326,856

More Examples

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