Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 898,096?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 8980962 x 4490484 x 2245248 x 11226216 x 56131
Negative: -1 x -898096-2 x -449048-4 x -224524-8 x -112262-16 x -56131


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 898,096?

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 898,096, 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.

1 898,096
-1 -898,096

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 898,096.

Example:
1 x 898,096 = 898,096
and
-1 x -898,096 = 898,096
Notice both answers equal 898,096

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 898,096 and divide it by 2:

898,096 ÷ 2 = 449,048

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 449,048 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 2 449,048 898,096
-1 -2 -449,048 -898,096

Now, we try dividing 898,096 by 3:

898,096 ÷ 3 = 299,365.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 299,365.3333 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 2 449,048 898,096
-1 -2 -449,048 -898,096

Let's try dividing by 4:

898,096 ÷ 4 = 224,524

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 224,524 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 4 224,524 449,048 898,096
-1 -2 -4 -224,524 -449,048 898,096
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12481656,131112,262224,524449,048898,096
-1-2-4-8-16-56,131-112,262-224,524-449,048-898,096

More Examples

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