Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 516,157,038?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 5161570382 x 2580785193 x 1720523466 x 860261739 x 5735078218 x 28675391
Negative: -1 x -516157038-2 x -258078519-3 x -172052346-6 x -86026173-9 x -57350782-18 x -28675391


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 516,157,038?

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 516,157,038, 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.

1 516,157,038
-1 -516,157,038

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 516,157,038.

Example:
1 x 516,157,038 = 516,157,038
and
-1 x -516,157,038 = 516,157,038
Notice both answers equal 516,157,038

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 516,157,038 and divide it by 2:

516,157,038 ÷ 2 = 258,078,519

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 258,078,519 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 2 258,078,519 516,157,038
-1 -2 -258,078,519 -516,157,038

Now, we try dividing 516,157,038 by 3:

516,157,038 ÷ 3 = 172,052,346

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 172,052,346 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 3 172,052,346 258,078,519 516,157,038
-1 -2 -3 -172,052,346 -258,078,519 -516,157,038

Let's try dividing by 4:

516,157,038 ÷ 4 = 129,039,259.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 129,039,259.5 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 3 172,052,346 258,078,519 516,157,038
-1 -2 -3 -172,052,346 -258,078,519 516,157,038
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123691828,675,39157,350,78286,026,173172,052,346258,078,519516,157,038
-1-2-3-6-9-18-28,675,391-57,350,782-86,026,173-172,052,346-258,078,519-516,157,038

More Examples

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