Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 500,308?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 5003082 x 2501544 x 12507719 x 2633229 x 1725238 x 1316658 x 862676 x 6583116 x 4313227 x 2204454 x 1102551 x 908
Negative: -1 x -500308-2 x -250154-4 x -125077-19 x -26332-29 x -17252-38 x -13166-58 x -8626-76 x -6583-116 x -4313-227 x -2204-454 x -1102-551 x -908


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 500,308?

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 500,308, 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.

1 500,308
-1 -500,308

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 500,308.

Example:
1 x 500,308 = 500,308
and
-1 x -500,308 = 500,308
Notice both answers equal 500,308

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 500,308 and divide it by 2:

500,308 ÷ 2 = 250,154

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 250,154 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 2 250,154 500,308
-1 -2 -250,154 -500,308

Now, we try dividing 500,308 by 3:

500,308 ÷ 3 = 166,769.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 166,769.3333 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 2 250,154 500,308
-1 -2 -250,154 -500,308

Let's try dividing by 4:

500,308 ÷ 4 = 125,077

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 125,077 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 4 125,077 250,154 500,308
-1 -2 -4 -125,077 -250,154 500,308
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12419293858761162274545519081,1022,2044,3136,5838,62613,16617,25226,332125,077250,154500,308
-1-2-4-19-29-38-58-76-116-227-454-551-908-1,102-2,204-4,313-6,583-8,626-13,166-17,252-26,332-125,077-250,154-500,308

More Examples

Here are some more numbers to try:

Try the factor calculator

Explore more about the number 500,308:


Ask a Question