Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 502,296?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 5022962 x 2511483 x 1674324 x 1255746 x 837168 x 6278712 x 4185824 x 20929
Negative: -1 x -502296-2 x -251148-3 x -167432-4 x -125574-6 x -83716-8 x -62787-12 x -41858-24 x -20929


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 502,296?

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 502,296, 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.

1 502,296
-1 -502,296

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 502,296.

Example:
1 x 502,296 = 502,296
and
-1 x -502,296 = 502,296
Notice both answers equal 502,296

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 502,296 and divide it by 2:

502,296 ÷ 2 = 251,148

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 251,148 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 2 251,148 502,296
-1 -2 -251,148 -502,296

Now, we try dividing 502,296 by 3:

502,296 ÷ 3 = 167,432

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 167,432 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 3 167,432 251,148 502,296
-1 -2 -3 -167,432 -251,148 -502,296

Let's try dividing by 4:

502,296 ÷ 4 = 125,574

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 125,574 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 4 125,574 167,432 251,148 502,296
-1 -2 -3 -4 -125,574 -167,432 -251,148 502,296
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122420,92941,85862,78783,716125,574167,432251,148502,296
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-20,929-41,858-62,787-83,716-125,574-167,432-251,148-502,296

More Examples

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