Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 512,584?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 5125842 x 2562924 x 1281468 x 6407317 x 3015234 x 1507668 x 7538136 x 3769
Negative: -1 x -512584-2 x -256292-4 x -128146-8 x -64073-17 x -30152-34 x -15076-68 x -7538-136 x -3769


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 512,584?

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 512,584, 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.

1 512,584
-1 -512,584

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 512,584.

Example:
1 x 512,584 = 512,584
and
-1 x -512,584 = 512,584
Notice both answers equal 512,584

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 512,584 and divide it by 2:

512,584 ÷ 2 = 256,292

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 256,292 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 2 256,292 512,584
-1 -2 -256,292 -512,584

Now, we try dividing 512,584 by 3:

512,584 ÷ 3 = 170,861.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 170,861.3333 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 2 256,292 512,584
-1 -2 -256,292 -512,584

Let's try dividing by 4:

512,584 ÷ 4 = 128,146

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 128,146 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 4 128,146 256,292 512,584
-1 -2 -4 -128,146 -256,292 512,584
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12481734681363,7697,53815,07630,15264,073128,146256,292512,584
-1-2-4-8-17-34-68-136-3,769-7,538-15,076-30,152-64,073-128,146-256,292-512,584

More Examples

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