Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 388,116?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3881162 x 1940583 x 1293724 x 970296 x 646869 x 4312412 x 3234318 x 2156236 x 10781
Negative: -1 x -388116-2 x -194058-3 x -129372-4 x -97029-6 x -64686-9 x -43124-12 x -32343-18 x -21562-36 x -10781


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 388,116?

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 388,116, 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.

1 388,116
-1 -388,116

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 388,116.

Example:
1 x 388,116 = 388,116
and
-1 x -388,116 = 388,116
Notice both answers equal 388,116

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 388,116 and divide it by 2:

388,116 ÷ 2 = 194,058

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 194,058 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 2 194,058 388,116
-1 -2 -194,058 -388,116

Now, we try dividing 388,116 by 3:

388,116 ÷ 3 = 129,372

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 129,372 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 3 129,372 194,058 388,116
-1 -2 -3 -129,372 -194,058 -388,116

Let's try dividing by 4:

388,116 ÷ 4 = 97,029

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 97,029 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 97,029 129,372 194,058 388,116
-1 -2 -3 -4 -97,029 -129,372 -194,058 388,116
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346912183610,78121,56232,34343,12464,68697,029129,372194,058388,116
-1-2-3-4-6-9-12-18-36-10,781-21,562-32,343-43,124-64,686-97,029-129,372-194,058-388,116

More Examples

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