Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 974,616?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 9746162 x 4873083 x 3248724 x 2436546 x 1624368 x 12182712 x 8121824 x 40609
Negative: -1 x -974616-2 x -487308-3 x -324872-4 x -243654-6 x -162436-8 x -121827-12 x -81218-24 x -40609


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 974,616?

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 974,616, 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.

1 974,616
-1 -974,616

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 974,616.

Example:
1 x 974,616 = 974,616
and
-1 x -974,616 = 974,616
Notice both answers equal 974,616

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 974,616 and divide it by 2:

974,616 ÷ 2 = 487,308

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 487,308 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 2 487,308 974,616
-1 -2 -487,308 -974,616

Now, we try dividing 974,616 by 3:

974,616 ÷ 3 = 324,872

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 324,872 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 3 324,872 487,308 974,616
-1 -2 -3 -324,872 -487,308 -974,616

Let's try dividing by 4:

974,616 ÷ 4 = 243,654

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 243,654 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 4 243,654 324,872 487,308 974,616
-1 -2 -3 -4 -243,654 -324,872 -487,308 974,616
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468122440,60981,218121,827162,436243,654324,872487,308974,616
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-40,609-81,218-121,827-162,436-243,654-324,872-487,308-974,616

More Examples

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