Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 394,023?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3940233 x 1313417 x 5628921 x 1876329 x 1358787 x 4529203 x 1941609 x 647
Negative: -1 x -394023-3 x -131341-7 x -56289-21 x -18763-29 x -13587-87 x -4529-203 x -1941-609 x -647


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 394,023?

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 394,023, 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.

1 394,023
-1 -394,023

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 394,023.

Example:
1 x 394,023 = 394,023
and
-1 x -394,023 = 394,023
Notice both answers equal 394,023

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 394,023 and divide it by 2:

394,023 ÷ 2 = 197,011.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 197,011.5 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:

1 394,023
-1 -394,023

Now, we try dividing 394,023 by 3:

394,023 ÷ 3 = 131,341

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 131,341 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 3 131,341 394,023
-1 -3 -131,341 -394,023

Let's try dividing by 4:

394,023 ÷ 4 = 98,505.75

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 98,505.75 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 3 131,341 394,023
-1 -3 -131,341 394,023
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1372129872036096471,9414,52913,58718,76356,289131,341394,023
-1-3-7-21-29-87-203-609-647-1,941-4,529-13,587-18,763-56,289-131,341-394,023

More Examples

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