Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 856,248?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 8562482 x 4281243 x 2854164 x 2140626 x 1427088 x 10703112 x 7135424 x 35677
Negative: -1 x -856248-2 x -428124-3 x -285416-4 x -214062-6 x -142708-8 x -107031-12 x -71354-24 x -35677


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 856,248?

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 856,248, 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.

1 856,248
-1 -856,248

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 856,248.

Example:
1 x 856,248 = 856,248
and
-1 x -856,248 = 856,248
Notice both answers equal 856,248

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 856,248 and divide it by 2:

856,248 ÷ 2 = 428,124

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 428,124 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 2 428,124 856,248
-1 -2 -428,124 -856,248

Now, we try dividing 856,248 by 3:

856,248 ÷ 3 = 285,416

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 285,416 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 3 285,416 428,124 856,248
-1 -2 -3 -285,416 -428,124 -856,248

Let's try dividing by 4:

856,248 ÷ 4 = 214,062

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 214,062 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 4 214,062 285,416 428,124 856,248
-1 -2 -3 -4 -214,062 -285,416 -428,124 856,248
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122435,67771,354107,031142,708214,062285,416428,124856,248
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-35,677-71,354-107,031-142,708-214,062-285,416-428,124-856,248

More Examples

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