Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 656,384?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 6563842 x 3281924 x 1640968 x 8204816 x 4102432 x 2051264 x 10256128 x 5128256 x 2564512 x 1282641 x 1024
Negative: -1 x -656384-2 x -328192-4 x -164096-8 x -82048-16 x -41024-32 x -20512-64 x -10256-128 x -5128-256 x -2564-512 x -1282-641 x -1024


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 656,384?

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 656,384, 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.

1 656,384
-1 -656,384

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 656,384.

Example:
1 x 656,384 = 656,384
and
-1 x -656,384 = 656,384
Notice both answers equal 656,384

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 656,384 and divide it by 2:

656,384 ÷ 2 = 328,192

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 328,192 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 2 328,192 656,384
-1 -2 -328,192 -656,384

Now, we try dividing 656,384 by 3:

656,384 ÷ 3 = 218,794.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 218,794.6667 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 2 328,192 656,384
-1 -2 -328,192 -656,384

Let's try dividing by 4:

656,384 ÷ 4 = 164,096

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 164,096 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 4 164,096 328,192 656,384
-1 -2 -4 -164,096 -328,192 656,384
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12481632641282565126411,0241,2822,5645,12810,25620,51241,02482,048164,096328,192656,384
-1-2-4-8-16-32-64-128-256-512-641-1,024-1,282-2,564-5,128-10,256-20,512-41,024-82,048-164,096-328,192-656,384

More Examples

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