Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 491,364?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 4913642 x 2456823 x 1637884 x 1228416 x 818949 x 5459612 x 4094718 x 2729836 x 13649
Negative: -1 x -491364-2 x -245682-3 x -163788-4 x -122841-6 x -81894-9 x -54596-12 x -40947-18 x -27298-36 x -13649


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 491,364?

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 491,364, 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.

1 491,364
-1 -491,364

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 491,364.

Example:
1 x 491,364 = 491,364
and
-1 x -491,364 = 491,364
Notice both answers equal 491,364

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 491,364 and divide it by 2:

491,364 ÷ 2 = 245,682

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 245,682 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 2 245,682 491,364
-1 -2 -245,682 -491,364

Now, we try dividing 491,364 by 3:

491,364 ÷ 3 = 163,788

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 163,788 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 3 163,788 245,682 491,364
-1 -2 -3 -163,788 -245,682 -491,364

Let's try dividing by 4:

491,364 ÷ 4 = 122,841

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 122,841 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 4 122,841 163,788 245,682 491,364
-1 -2 -3 -4 -122,841 -163,788 -245,682 491,364
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346912183613,64927,29840,94754,59681,894122,841163,788245,682491,364
-1-2-3-4-6-9-12-18-36-13,649-27,298-40,947-54,596-81,894-122,841-163,788-245,682-491,364

More Examples

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