Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 38,460?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 384602 x 192303 x 128204 x 96155 x 76926 x 641010 x 384612 x 320515 x 256420 x 192330 x 128260 x 641
Negative: -1 x -38460-2 x -19230-3 x -12820-4 x -9615-5 x -7692-6 x -6410-10 x -3846-12 x -3205-15 x -2564-20 x -1923-30 x -1282-60 x -641


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 38,460?

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 38,460, 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 38,460
-1 -38,460

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 38,460.

Example:
1 x 38,460 = 38,460
and
-1 x -38,460 = 38,460
Notice both answers equal 38,460

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 38,460 and divide it by 2:

38,460 ÷ 2 = 19,230

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 19,230 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 19,230 38,460
-1 -2 -19,230 -38,460

Now, we try dividing 38,460 by 3:

38,460 ÷ 3 = 12,820

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 12,820 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 12,820 19,230 38,460
-1 -2 -3 -12,820 -19,230 -38,460

Let's try dividing by 4:

38,460 ÷ 4 = 9,615

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 9,615 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 9,615 12,820 19,230 38,460
-1 -2 -3 -4 -9,615 -12,820 -19,230 38,460
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234561012152030606411,2821,9232,5643,2053,8466,4107,6929,61512,82019,23038,460
-1-2-3-4-5-6-10-12-15-20-30-60-641-1,282-1,923-2,564-3,205-3,846-6,410-7,692-9,615-12,820-19,230-38,460

More Examples

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