Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 342,864?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3428642 x 1714323 x 1142884 x 857166 x 571448 x 428589 x 3809612 x 2857216 x 2142918 x 1904824 x 1428636 x 952448 x 714372 x 4762144 x 2381
Negative: -1 x -342864-2 x -171432-3 x -114288-4 x -85716-6 x -57144-8 x -42858-9 x -38096-12 x -28572-16 x -21429-18 x -19048-24 x -14286-36 x -9524-48 x -7143-72 x -4762-144 x -2381


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 342,864?

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 342,864, 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.

1 342,864
-1 -342,864

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 342,864.

Example:
1 x 342,864 = 342,864
and
-1 x -342,864 = 342,864
Notice both answers equal 342,864

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 342,864 and divide it by 2:

342,864 ÷ 2 = 171,432

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 171,432 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 2 171,432 342,864
-1 -2 -171,432 -342,864

Now, we try dividing 342,864 by 3:

342,864 ÷ 3 = 114,288

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 114,288 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 3 114,288 171,432 342,864
-1 -2 -3 -114,288 -171,432 -342,864

Let's try dividing by 4:

342,864 ÷ 4 = 85,716

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 85,716 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 85,716 114,288 171,432 342,864
-1 -2 -3 -4 -85,716 -114,288 -171,432 342,864
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234689121618243648721442,3814,7627,1439,52414,28619,04821,42928,57238,09642,85857,14485,716114,288171,432342,864
-1-2-3-4-6-8-9-12-16-18-24-36-48-72-144-2,381-4,762-7,143-9,524-14,286-19,048-21,429-28,572-38,096-42,858-57,144-85,716-114,288-171,432-342,864

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