Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 52,238,838?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 522388382 x 261194193 x 174129466 x 870647341 x 127411882 x 637059123 x 424706246 x 212353
Negative: -1 x -52238838-2 x -26119419-3 x -17412946-6 x -8706473-41 x -1274118-82 x -637059-123 x -424706-246 x -212353


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 52,238,838?

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 52,238,838, 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 52,238,838
-1 -52,238,838

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 52,238,838.

Example:
1 x 52,238,838 = 52,238,838
and
-1 x -52,238,838 = 52,238,838
Notice both answers equal 52,238,838

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 52,238,838 and divide it by 2:

52,238,838 ÷ 2 = 26,119,419

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 26,119,419 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 26,119,419 52,238,838
-1 -2 -26,119,419 -52,238,838

Now, we try dividing 52,238,838 by 3:

52,238,838 ÷ 3 = 17,412,946

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 17,412,946 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 17,412,946 26,119,419 52,238,838
-1 -2 -3 -17,412,946 -26,119,419 -52,238,838

Let's try dividing by 4:

52,238,838 ÷ 4 = 13,059,709.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 13,059,709.5 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 17,412,946 26,119,419 52,238,838
-1 -2 -3 -17,412,946 -26,119,419 52,238,838
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12364182123246212,353424,706637,0591,274,1188,706,47317,412,94626,119,41952,238,838
-1-2-3-6-41-82-123-246-212,353-424,706-637,059-1,274,118-8,706,473-17,412,946-26,119,419-52,238,838

More Examples

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