Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 42,285,676?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 422856762 x 211428384 x 105714192143 x 197324286 x 98664933 x 8572
Negative: -1 x -42285676-2 x -21142838-4 x -10571419-2143 x -19732-4286 x -9866-4933 x -8572


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 42,285,676?

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 42,285,676, 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 42,285,676
-1 -42,285,676

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 42,285,676.

Example:
1 x 42,285,676 = 42,285,676
and
-1 x -42,285,676 = 42,285,676
Notice both answers equal 42,285,676

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 42,285,676 and divide it by 2:

42,285,676 ÷ 2 = 21,142,838

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 21,142,838 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 21,142,838 42,285,676
-1 -2 -21,142,838 -42,285,676

Now, we try dividing 42,285,676 by 3:

42,285,676 ÷ 3 = 14,095,225.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 14,095,225.3333 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 21,142,838 42,285,676
-1 -2 -21,142,838 -42,285,676

Let's try dividing by 4:

42,285,676 ÷ 4 = 10,571,419

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 10,571,419 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 10,571,419 21,142,838 42,285,676
-1 -2 -4 -10,571,419 -21,142,838 42,285,676
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1242,1434,2864,9338,5729,86619,73210,571,41921,142,83842,285,676
-1-2-4-2,143-4,286-4,933-8,572-9,866-19,732-10,571,419-21,142,838-42,285,676

More Examples

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