Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 85,240?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 852402 x 426204 x 213105 x 170488 x 1065510 x 852420 x 426240 x 2131
Negative: -1 x -85240-2 x -42620-4 x -21310-5 x -17048-8 x -10655-10 x -8524-20 x -4262-40 x -2131


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 85,240?

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 85,240, 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 85,240
-1 -85,240

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 85,240.

Example:
1 x 85,240 = 85,240
and
-1 x -85,240 = 85,240
Notice both answers equal 85,240

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 85,240 and divide it by 2:

85,240 ÷ 2 = 42,620

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 42,620 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 42,620 85,240
-1 -2 -42,620 -85,240

Now, we try dividing 85,240 by 3:

85,240 ÷ 3 = 28,413.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 28,413.3333 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 42,620 85,240
-1 -2 -42,620 -85,240

Let's try dividing by 4:

85,240 ÷ 4 = 21,310

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 21,310 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 21,310 42,620 85,240
-1 -2 -4 -21,310 -42,620 85,240
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124581020402,1314,2628,52410,65517,04821,31042,62085,240
-1-2-4-5-8-10-20-40-2,131-4,262-8,524-10,655-17,048-21,310-42,620-85,240

More Examples

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