Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 500,604?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 5006042 x 2503023 x 1668684 x 1251516 x 8343412 x 4171713 x 3850826 x 1925439 x 1283652 x 962778 x 6418156 x 3209
Negative: -1 x -500604-2 x -250302-3 x -166868-4 x -125151-6 x -83434-12 x -41717-13 x -38508-26 x -19254-39 x -12836-52 x -9627-78 x -6418-156 x -3209


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 500,604?

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 500,604, 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.

1 500,604
-1 -500,604

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 500,604.

Example:
1 x 500,604 = 500,604
and
-1 x -500,604 = 500,604
Notice both answers equal 500,604

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 500,604 and divide it by 2:

500,604 ÷ 2 = 250,302

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 250,302 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 2 250,302 500,604
-1 -2 -250,302 -500,604

Now, we try dividing 500,604 by 3:

500,604 ÷ 3 = 166,868

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 166,868 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 3 166,868 250,302 500,604
-1 -2 -3 -166,868 -250,302 -500,604

Let's try dividing by 4:

500,604 ÷ 4 = 125,151

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 125,151 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 4 125,151 166,868 250,302 500,604
-1 -2 -3 -4 -125,151 -166,868 -250,302 500,604
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461213263952781563,2096,4189,62712,83619,25438,50841,71783,434125,151166,868250,302500,604
-1-2-3-4-6-12-13-26-39-52-78-156-3,209-6,418-9,627-12,836-19,254-38,508-41,717-83,434-125,151-166,868-250,302-500,604

More Examples

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