Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 86,892?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 868922 x 434463 x 289644 x 217236 x 1448212 x 724113 x 668426 x 334239 x 222852 x 167178 x 1114156 x 557
Negative: -1 x -86892-2 x -43446-3 x -28964-4 x -21723-6 x -14482-12 x -7241-13 x -6684-26 x -3342-39 x -2228-52 x -1671-78 x -1114-156 x -557


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 86,892?

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 86,892, 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 86,892
-1 -86,892

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 86,892.

Example:
1 x 86,892 = 86,892
and
-1 x -86,892 = 86,892
Notice both answers equal 86,892

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 86,892 and divide it by 2:

86,892 ÷ 2 = 43,446

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 43,446 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 43,446 86,892
-1 -2 -43,446 -86,892

Now, we try dividing 86,892 by 3:

86,892 ÷ 3 = 28,964

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 28,964 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 28,964 43,446 86,892
-1 -2 -3 -28,964 -43,446 -86,892

Let's try dividing by 4:

86,892 ÷ 4 = 21,723

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 21,723 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 21,723 28,964 43,446 86,892
-1 -2 -3 -4 -21,723 -28,964 -43,446 86,892
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123461213263952781565571,1141,6712,2283,3426,6847,24114,48221,72328,96443,44686,892
-1-2-3-4-6-12-13-26-39-52-78-156-557-1,114-1,671-2,228-3,342-6,684-7,241-14,482-21,723-28,964-43,446-86,892

More Examples

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