Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 686,372?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 6863722 x 3431864 x 17159329 x 2366858 x 1183461 x 1125297 x 7076116 x 5917122 x 5626194 x 3538244 x 2813388 x 1769
Negative: -1 x -686372-2 x -343186-4 x -171593-29 x -23668-58 x -11834-61 x -11252-97 x -7076-116 x -5917-122 x -5626-194 x -3538-244 x -2813-388 x -1769


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 686,372?

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 686,372, 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.

1 686,372
-1 -686,372

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 686,372.

Example:
1 x 686,372 = 686,372
and
-1 x -686,372 = 686,372
Notice both answers equal 686,372

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 686,372 and divide it by 2:

686,372 ÷ 2 = 343,186

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 343,186 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 2 343,186 686,372
-1 -2 -343,186 -686,372

Now, we try dividing 686,372 by 3:

686,372 ÷ 3 = 228,790.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 228,790.6667 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 2 343,186 686,372
-1 -2 -343,186 -686,372

Let's try dividing by 4:

686,372 ÷ 4 = 171,593

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 171,593 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 4 171,593 343,186 686,372
-1 -2 -4 -171,593 -343,186 686,372
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124295861971161221942443881,7692,8133,5385,6265,9177,07611,25211,83423,668171,593343,186686,372
-1-2-4-29-58-61-97-116-122-194-244-388-1,769-2,813-3,538-5,626-5,917-7,076-11,252-11,834-23,668-171,593-343,186-686,372

More Examples

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