Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 868,668?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 8686682 x 4343343 x 2895564 x 2171676 x 14477812 x 72389191 x 4548379 x 2292382 x 2274573 x 1516758 x 1146764 x 1137
Negative: -1 x -868668-2 x -434334-3 x -289556-4 x -217167-6 x -144778-12 x -72389-191 x -4548-379 x -2292-382 x -2274-573 x -1516-758 x -1146-764 x -1137


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 868,668?

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 868,668, 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.

1 868,668
-1 -868,668

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 868,668.

Example:
1 x 868,668 = 868,668
and
-1 x -868,668 = 868,668
Notice both answers equal 868,668

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 868,668 and divide it by 2:

868,668 ÷ 2 = 434,334

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 434,334 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 2 434,334 868,668
-1 -2 -434,334 -868,668

Now, we try dividing 868,668 by 3:

868,668 ÷ 3 = 289,556

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 289,556 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 3 289,556 434,334 868,668
-1 -2 -3 -289,556 -434,334 -868,668

Let's try dividing by 4:

868,668 ÷ 4 = 217,167

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 217,167 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 4 217,167 289,556 434,334 868,668
-1 -2 -3 -4 -217,167 -289,556 -434,334 868,668
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346121913793825737587641,1371,1461,5162,2742,2924,54872,389144,778217,167289,556434,334868,668
-1-2-3-4-6-12-191-379-382-573-758-764-1,137-1,146-1,516-2,274-2,292-4,548-72,389-144,778-217,167-289,556-434,334-868,668

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