Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 438,456?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 4384562 x 2192283 x 1461524 x 1096146 x 730768 x 5480712 x 3653824 x 18269
Negative: -1 x -438456-2 x -219228-3 x -146152-4 x -109614-6 x -73076-8 x -54807-12 x -36538-24 x -18269


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 438,456?

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 438,456, 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.

1 438,456
-1 -438,456

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 438,456.

Example:
1 x 438,456 = 438,456
and
-1 x -438,456 = 438,456
Notice both answers equal 438,456

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 438,456 and divide it by 2:

438,456 ÷ 2 = 219,228

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 219,228 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 2 219,228 438,456
-1 -2 -219,228 -438,456

Now, we try dividing 438,456 by 3:

438,456 ÷ 3 = 146,152

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 146,152 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 3 146,152 219,228 438,456
-1 -2 -3 -146,152 -219,228 -438,456

Let's try dividing by 4:

438,456 ÷ 4 = 109,614

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 109,614 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 3 4 109,614 146,152 219,228 438,456
-1 -2 -3 -4 -109,614 -146,152 -219,228 438,456
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122418,26936,53854,80773,076109,614146,152219,228438,456
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-18,269-36,538-54,807-73,076-109,614-146,152-219,228-438,456

More Examples

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