Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 420,656,272?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 4206562722 x 2103281364 x 1051640688 x 5258203416 x 2629101743 x 978270486 x 4891352172 x 2445676344 x 1222838688 x 611419
Negative: -1 x -420656272-2 x -210328136-4 x -105164068-8 x -52582034-16 x -26291017-43 x -9782704-86 x -4891352-172 x -2445676-344 x -1222838-688 x -611419


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 420,656,272?

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 420,656,272, 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.

1 420,656,272
-1 -420,656,272

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 420,656,272.

Example:
1 x 420,656,272 = 420,656,272
and
-1 x -420,656,272 = 420,656,272
Notice both answers equal 420,656,272

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 420,656,272 and divide it by 2:

420,656,272 ÷ 2 = 210,328,136

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 210,328,136 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 2 210,328,136 420,656,272
-1 -2 -210,328,136 -420,656,272

Now, we try dividing 420,656,272 by 3:

420,656,272 ÷ 3 = 140,218,757.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 140,218,757.3333 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 2 210,328,136 420,656,272
-1 -2 -210,328,136 -420,656,272

Let's try dividing by 4:

420,656,272 ÷ 4 = 105,164,068

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 105,164,068 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 4 105,164,068 210,328,136 420,656,272
-1 -2 -4 -105,164,068 -210,328,136 420,656,272
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1248164386172344688611,4191,222,8382,445,6764,891,3529,782,70426,291,01752,582,034105,164,068210,328,136420,656,272
-1-2-4-8-16-43-86-172-344-688-611,419-1,222,838-2,445,676-4,891,352-9,782,704-26,291,017-52,582,034-105,164,068-210,328,136-420,656,272

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