Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 47,136?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 471362 x 235683 x 157124 x 117846 x 78568 x 589212 x 392816 x 294624 x 196432 x 147348 x 98296 x 491
Negative: -1 x -47136-2 x -23568-3 x -15712-4 x -11784-6 x -7856-8 x -5892-12 x -3928-16 x -2946-24 x -1964-32 x -1473-48 x -982-96 x -491


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 47,136?

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 47,136, 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 47,136
-1 -47,136

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 47,136.

Example:
1 x 47,136 = 47,136
and
-1 x -47,136 = 47,136
Notice both answers equal 47,136

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 47,136 and divide it by 2:

47,136 ÷ 2 = 23,568

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 23,568 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 23,568 47,136
-1 -2 -23,568 -47,136

Now, we try dividing 47,136 by 3:

47,136 ÷ 3 = 15,712

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 15,712 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 15,712 23,568 47,136
-1 -2 -3 -15,712 -23,568 -47,136

Let's try dividing by 4:

47,136 ÷ 4 = 11,784

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 11,784 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 11,784 15,712 23,568 47,136
-1 -2 -3 -4 -11,784 -15,712 -23,568 47,136
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234681216243248964919821,4731,9642,9463,9285,8927,85611,78415,71223,56847,136
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-16-24-32-48-96-491-982-1,473-1,964-2,946-3,928-5,892-7,856-11,784-15,712-23,568-47,136

More Examples

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