Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 578,940?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 5789402 x 2894703 x 1929804 x 1447355 x 1157886 x 9649010 x 5789412 x 4824515 x 3859620 x 2894730 x 1929860 x 9649
Negative: -1 x -578940-2 x -289470-3 x -192980-4 x -144735-5 x -115788-6 x -96490-10 x -57894-12 x -48245-15 x -38596-20 x -28947-30 x -19298-60 x -9649


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 578,940?

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 578,940, 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.

1 578,940
-1 -578,940

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 578,940.

Example:
1 x 578,940 = 578,940
and
-1 x -578,940 = 578,940
Notice both answers equal 578,940

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 578,940 and divide it by 2:

578,940 ÷ 2 = 289,470

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 289,470 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 2 289,470 578,940
-1 -2 -289,470 -578,940

Now, we try dividing 578,940 by 3:

578,940 ÷ 3 = 192,980

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 192,980 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 3 192,980 289,470 578,940
-1 -2 -3 -192,980 -289,470 -578,940

Let's try dividing by 4:

578,940 ÷ 4 = 144,735

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 144,735 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 4 144,735 192,980 289,470 578,940
-1 -2 -3 -4 -144,735 -192,980 -289,470 578,940
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234561012152030609,64919,29828,94738,59648,24557,89496,490115,788144,735192,980289,470578,940
-1-2-3-4-5-6-10-12-15-20-30-60-9,649-19,298-28,947-38,596-48,245-57,894-96,490-115,788-144,735-192,980-289,470-578,940

More Examples

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