Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 492,740?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 4927402 x 2463704 x 1231855 x 9854810 x 4927420 x 2463771 x 6940142 x 3470284 x 1735347 x 1420355 x 1388694 x 710
Negative: -1 x -492740-2 x -246370-4 x -123185-5 x -98548-10 x -49274-20 x -24637-71 x -6940-142 x -3470-284 x -1735-347 x -1420-355 x -1388-694 x -710


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 492,740?

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 492,740, 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.

1 492,740
-1 -492,740

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 492,740.

Example:
1 x 492,740 = 492,740
and
-1 x -492,740 = 492,740
Notice both answers equal 492,740

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 492,740 and divide it by 2:

492,740 ÷ 2 = 246,370

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 246,370 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 2 246,370 492,740
-1 -2 -246,370 -492,740

Now, we try dividing 492,740 by 3:

492,740 ÷ 3 = 164,246.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 164,246.6667 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 2 246,370 492,740
-1 -2 -246,370 -492,740

Let's try dividing by 4:

492,740 ÷ 4 = 123,185

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 123,185 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 4 123,185 246,370 492,740
-1 -2 -4 -123,185 -246,370 492,740
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12451020711422843473556947101,3881,4201,7353,4706,94024,63749,27498,548123,185246,370492,740
-1-2-4-5-10-20-71-142-284-347-355-694-710-1,388-1,420-1,735-3,470-6,940-24,637-49,274-98,548-123,185-246,370-492,740

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