Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 857,212?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 8572122 x 4286064 x 21430331 x 2765262 x 13826124 x 6913223 x 3844446 x 1922892 x 961
Negative: -1 x -857212-2 x -428606-4 x -214303-31 x -27652-62 x -13826-124 x -6913-223 x -3844-446 x -1922-892 x -961


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 857,212?

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 857,212, 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.

1 857,212
-1 -857,212

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 857,212.

Example:
1 x 857,212 = 857,212
and
-1 x -857,212 = 857,212
Notice both answers equal 857,212

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 857,212 and divide it by 2:

857,212 ÷ 2 = 428,606

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 428,606 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 2 428,606 857,212
-1 -2 -428,606 -857,212

Now, we try dividing 857,212 by 3:

857,212 ÷ 3 = 285,737.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 285,737.3333 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 2 428,606 857,212
-1 -2 -428,606 -857,212

Let's try dividing by 4:

857,212 ÷ 4 = 214,303

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 214,303 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 4 214,303 428,606 857,212
-1 -2 -4 -214,303 -428,606 857,212
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12431621242234468929611,9223,8446,91313,82627,652214,303428,606857,212
-1-2-4-31-62-124-223-446-892-961-1,922-3,844-6,913-13,826-27,652-214,303-428,606-857,212

More Examples

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