Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 471,732?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 4717322 x 2358663 x 1572444 x 1179336 x 7862212 x 3931119 x 2482838 x 1241457 x 827676 x 6207114 x 4138228 x 2069
Negative: -1 x -471732-2 x -235866-3 x -157244-4 x -117933-6 x -78622-12 x -39311-19 x -24828-38 x -12414-57 x -8276-76 x -6207-114 x -4138-228 x -2069


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 471,732?

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 471,732, 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.

1 471,732
-1 -471,732

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 471,732.

Example:
1 x 471,732 = 471,732
and
-1 x -471,732 = 471,732
Notice both answers equal 471,732

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 471,732 and divide it by 2:

471,732 ÷ 2 = 235,866

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 235,866 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 2 235,866 471,732
-1 -2 -235,866 -471,732

Now, we try dividing 471,732 by 3:

471,732 ÷ 3 = 157,244

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 157,244 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 3 157,244 235,866 471,732
-1 -2 -3 -157,244 -235,866 -471,732

Let's try dividing by 4:

471,732 ÷ 4 = 117,933

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 117,933 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 4 117,933 157,244 235,866 471,732
-1 -2 -3 -4 -117,933 -157,244 -235,866 471,732
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234612193857761142282,0694,1386,2078,27612,41424,82839,31178,622117,933157,244235,866471,732
-1-2-3-4-6-12-19-38-57-76-114-228-2,069-4,138-6,207-8,276-12,414-24,828-39,311-78,622-117,933-157,244-235,866-471,732

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