Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 589,832?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 5898322 x 2949164 x 1474588 x 7372917 x 3469634 x 1734868 x 8674136 x 4337
Negative: -1 x -589832-2 x -294916-4 x -147458-8 x -73729-17 x -34696-34 x -17348-68 x -8674-136 x -4337


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 589,832?

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 589,832, 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.

1 589,832
-1 -589,832

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 589,832.

Example:
1 x 589,832 = 589,832
and
-1 x -589,832 = 589,832
Notice both answers equal 589,832

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 589,832 and divide it by 2:

589,832 ÷ 2 = 294,916

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 294,916 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 2 294,916 589,832
-1 -2 -294,916 -589,832

Now, we try dividing 589,832 by 3:

589,832 ÷ 3 = 196,610.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 196,610.6667 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 2 294,916 589,832
-1 -2 -294,916 -589,832

Let's try dividing by 4:

589,832 ÷ 4 = 147,458

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 147,458 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 4 147,458 294,916 589,832
-1 -2 -4 -147,458 -294,916 589,832
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12481734681364,3378,67417,34834,69673,729147,458294,916589,832
-1-2-4-8-17-34-68-136-4,337-8,674-17,348-34,696-73,729-147,458-294,916-589,832

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