Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 36,552?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 365522 x 182763 x 121844 x 91386 x 60928 x 456912 x 304624 x 1523
Negative: -1 x -36552-2 x -18276-3 x -12184-4 x -9138-6 x -6092-8 x -4569-12 x -3046-24 x -1523


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 36,552?

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 36,552, 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 36,552
-1 -36,552

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 36,552.

Example:
1 x 36,552 = 36,552
and
-1 x -36,552 = 36,552
Notice both answers equal 36,552

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 36,552 and divide it by 2:

36,552 ÷ 2 = 18,276

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 18,276 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 18,276 36,552
-1 -2 -18,276 -36,552

Now, we try dividing 36,552 by 3:

36,552 ÷ 3 = 12,184

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 12,184 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 12,184 18,276 36,552
-1 -2 -3 -12,184 -18,276 -36,552

Let's try dividing by 4:

36,552 ÷ 4 = 9,138

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 9,138 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 9,138 12,184 18,276 36,552
-1 -2 -3 -4 -9,138 -12,184 -18,276 36,552
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346812241,5233,0464,5696,0929,13812,18418,27636,552
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-1,523-3,046-4,569-6,092-9,138-12,184-18,276-36,552

More Examples

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