Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 787,224?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 7872242 x 3936123 x 2624084 x 1968066 x 1312048 x 9840312 x 6560224 x 32801
Negative: -1 x -787224-2 x -393612-3 x -262408-4 x -196806-6 x -131204-8 x -98403-12 x -65602-24 x -32801


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 787,224?

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 787,224, 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.

1 787,224
-1 -787,224

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 787,224.

Example:
1 x 787,224 = 787,224
and
-1 x -787,224 = 787,224
Notice both answers equal 787,224

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 787,224 and divide it by 2:

787,224 ÷ 2 = 393,612

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 393,612 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 2 393,612 787,224
-1 -2 -393,612 -787,224

Now, we try dividing 787,224 by 3:

787,224 ÷ 3 = 262,408

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 262,408 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 3 262,408 393,612 787,224
-1 -2 -3 -262,408 -393,612 -787,224

Let's try dividing by 4:

787,224 ÷ 4 = 196,806

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 196,806 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 4 196,806 262,408 393,612 787,224
-1 -2 -3 -4 -196,806 -262,408 -393,612 787,224
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122432,80165,60298,403131,204196,806262,408393,612787,224
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-32,801-65,602-98,403-131,204-196,806-262,408-393,612-787,224

More Examples

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