Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 42,361,232?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 423612322 x 211806164 x 105903088 x 529515416 x 2647577
Negative: -1 x -42361232-2 x -21180616-4 x -10590308-8 x -5295154-16 x -2647577


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 42,361,232?

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 42,361,232, 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 42,361,232
-1 -42,361,232

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 42,361,232.

Example:
1 x 42,361,232 = 42,361,232
and
-1 x -42,361,232 = 42,361,232
Notice both answers equal 42,361,232

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 42,361,232 and divide it by 2:

42,361,232 ÷ 2 = 21,180,616

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 21,180,616 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 21,180,616 42,361,232
-1 -2 -21,180,616 -42,361,232

Now, we try dividing 42,361,232 by 3:

42,361,232 ÷ 3 = 14,120,410.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 14,120,410.6667 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 21,180,616 42,361,232
-1 -2 -21,180,616 -42,361,232

Let's try dividing by 4:

42,361,232 ÷ 4 = 10,590,308

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 10,590,308 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 10,590,308 21,180,616 42,361,232
-1 -2 -4 -10,590,308 -21,180,616 42,361,232
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1248162,647,5775,295,15410,590,30821,180,61642,361,232
-1-2-4-8-16-2,647,577-5,295,154-10,590,308-21,180,616-42,361,232

More Examples

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