Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 489,532?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 4895322 x 2447664 x 12238317 x 2879623 x 2128434 x 1439846 x 1064268 x 719992 x 5321313 x 1564391 x 1252626 x 782
Negative: -1 x -489532-2 x -244766-4 x -122383-17 x -28796-23 x -21284-34 x -14398-46 x -10642-68 x -7199-92 x -5321-313 x -1564-391 x -1252-626 x -782


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 489,532?

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 489,532, 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.

1 489,532
-1 -489,532

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 489,532.

Example:
1 x 489,532 = 489,532
and
-1 x -489,532 = 489,532
Notice both answers equal 489,532

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 489,532 and divide it by 2:

489,532 ÷ 2 = 244,766

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 244,766 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 2 244,766 489,532
-1 -2 -244,766 -489,532

Now, we try dividing 489,532 by 3:

489,532 ÷ 3 = 163,177.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 163,177.3333 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 2 244,766 489,532
-1 -2 -244,766 -489,532

Let's try dividing by 4:

489,532 ÷ 4 = 122,383

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 122,383 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 4 122,383 244,766 489,532
-1 -2 -4 -122,383 -244,766 489,532
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1241723344668923133916267821,2521,5645,3217,19910,64214,39821,28428,796122,383244,766489,532
-1-2-4-17-23-34-46-68-92-313-391-626-782-1,252-1,564-5,321-7,199-10,642-14,398-21,284-28,796-122,383-244,766-489,532

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