Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 500,172?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 5001722 x 2500863 x 1667244 x 1250436 x 8336212 x 41681
Negative: -1 x -500172-2 x -250086-3 x -166724-4 x -125043-6 x -83362-12 x -41681


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 500,172?

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 500,172, 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.

1 500,172
-1 -500,172

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 500,172.

Example:
1 x 500,172 = 500,172
and
-1 x -500,172 = 500,172
Notice both answers equal 500,172

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 500,172 and divide it by 2:

500,172 ÷ 2 = 250,086

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 250,086 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 2 250,086 500,172
-1 -2 -250,086 -500,172

Now, we try dividing 500,172 by 3:

500,172 ÷ 3 = 166,724

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 166,724 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 3 166,724 250,086 500,172
-1 -2 -3 -166,724 -250,086 -500,172

Let's try dividing by 4:

500,172 ÷ 4 = 125,043

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 125,043 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 4 125,043 166,724 250,086 500,172
-1 -2 -3 -4 -125,043 -166,724 -250,086 500,172
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461241,68183,362125,043166,724250,086500,172
-1-2-3-4-6-12-41,681-83,362-125,043-166,724-250,086-500,172

More Examples

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