Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 78,918?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 789182 x 394593 x 263066 x 131537 x 1127414 x 563721 x 375842 x 1879
Negative: -1 x -78918-2 x -39459-3 x -26306-6 x -13153-7 x -11274-14 x -5637-21 x -3758-42 x -1879


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 78,918?

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 78,918, 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 78,918
-1 -78,918

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 78,918.

Example:
1 x 78,918 = 78,918
and
-1 x -78,918 = 78,918
Notice both answers equal 78,918

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 78,918 and divide it by 2:

78,918 ÷ 2 = 39,459

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 39,459 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 39,459 78,918
-1 -2 -39,459 -78,918

Now, we try dividing 78,918 by 3:

78,918 ÷ 3 = 26,306

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 26,306 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 26,306 39,459 78,918
-1 -2 -3 -26,306 -39,459 -78,918

Let's try dividing by 4:

78,918 ÷ 4 = 19,729.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 19,729.5 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 3 26,306 39,459 78,918
-1 -2 -3 -26,306 -39,459 78,918
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123671421421,8793,7585,63711,27413,15326,30639,45978,918
-1-2-3-6-7-14-21-42-1,879-3,758-5,637-11,274-13,153-26,306-39,459-78,918

More Examples

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