Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 852,608?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 8526082 x 4263044 x 2131528 x 10657616 x 5328832 x 2664464 x 13322128 x 6661
Negative: -1 x -852608-2 x -426304-4 x -213152-8 x -106576-16 x -53288-32 x -26644-64 x -13322-128 x -6661


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 852,608?

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 852,608, 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.

1 852,608
-1 -852,608

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 852,608.

Example:
1 x 852,608 = 852,608
and
-1 x -852,608 = 852,608
Notice both answers equal 852,608

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 852,608 and divide it by 2:

852,608 ÷ 2 = 426,304

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 426,304 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 2 426,304 852,608
-1 -2 -426,304 -852,608

Now, we try dividing 852,608 by 3:

852,608 ÷ 3 = 284,202.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 284,202.6667 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 2 426,304 852,608
-1 -2 -426,304 -852,608

Let's try dividing by 4:

852,608 ÷ 4 = 213,152

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 213,152 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 4 213,152 426,304 852,608
-1 -2 -4 -213,152 -426,304 852,608
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12481632641286,66113,32226,64453,288106,576213,152426,304852,608
-1-2-4-8-16-32-64-128-6,661-13,322-26,644-53,288-106,576-213,152-426,304-852,608

More Examples

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