Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 389,336?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3893362 x 1946684 x 973348 x 4866741 x 949682 x 4748164 x 2374328 x 1187
Negative: -1 x -389336-2 x -194668-4 x -97334-8 x -48667-41 x -9496-82 x -4748-164 x -2374-328 x -1187


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 389,336?

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 389,336, 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.

1 389,336
-1 -389,336

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 389,336.

Example:
1 x 389,336 = 389,336
and
-1 x -389,336 = 389,336
Notice both answers equal 389,336

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 389,336 and divide it by 2:

389,336 ÷ 2 = 194,668

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 194,668 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 2 194,668 389,336
-1 -2 -194,668 -389,336

Now, we try dividing 389,336 by 3:

389,336 ÷ 3 = 129,778.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 129,778.6667 are factors. In this case, the quotient is not a whole number. Don't write anything down and try the next divisor.

Here is what our table should look like at this step:

1 2 194,668 389,336
-1 -2 -194,668 -389,336

Let's try dividing by 4:

389,336 ÷ 4 = 97,334

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 97,334 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 4 97,334 194,668 389,336
-1 -2 -4 -97,334 -194,668 389,336
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124841821643281,1872,3744,7489,49648,66797,334194,668389,336
-1-2-4-8-41-82-164-328-1,187-2,374-4,748-9,496-48,667-97,334-194,668-389,336

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