Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 72,096?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 720962 x 360483 x 240324 x 180246 x 120168 x 901212 x 600816 x 450624 x 300432 x 225348 x 150296 x 751
Negative: -1 x -72096-2 x -36048-3 x -24032-4 x -18024-6 x -12016-8 x -9012-12 x -6008-16 x -4506-24 x -3004-32 x -2253-48 x -1502-96 x -751


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 72,096?

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 72,096, 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 72,096
-1 -72,096

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 72,096.

Example:
1 x 72,096 = 72,096
and
-1 x -72,096 = 72,096
Notice both answers equal 72,096

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 72,096 and divide it by 2:

72,096 ÷ 2 = 36,048

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 36,048 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 36,048 72,096
-1 -2 -36,048 -72,096

Now, we try dividing 72,096 by 3:

72,096 ÷ 3 = 24,032

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 24,032 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 24,032 36,048 72,096
-1 -2 -3 -24,032 -36,048 -72,096

Let's try dividing by 4:

72,096 ÷ 4 = 18,024

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 18,024 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 18,024 24,032 36,048 72,096
-1 -2 -3 -4 -18,024 -24,032 -36,048 72,096
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234681216243248967511,5022,2533,0044,5066,0089,01212,01618,02424,03236,04872,096
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-16-24-32-48-96-751-1,502-2,253-3,004-4,506-6,008-9,012-12,016-18,024-24,032-36,048-72,096

More Examples

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