Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 985,904?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 9859042 x 4929524 x 2464768 x 12323816 x 6161943 x 2292886 x 11464172 x 5732344 x 2866688 x 1433
Negative: -1 x -985904-2 x -492952-4 x -246476-8 x -123238-16 x -61619-43 x -22928-86 x -11464-172 x -5732-344 x -2866-688 x -1433


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 985,904?

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 985,904, 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.

1 985,904
-1 -985,904

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 985,904.

Example:
1 x 985,904 = 985,904
and
-1 x -985,904 = 985,904
Notice both answers equal 985,904

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 985,904 and divide it by 2:

985,904 ÷ 2 = 492,952

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 492,952 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 2 492,952 985,904
-1 -2 -492,952 -985,904

Now, we try dividing 985,904 by 3:

985,904 ÷ 3 = 328,634.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 328,634.6667 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 2 492,952 985,904
-1 -2 -492,952 -985,904

Let's try dividing by 4:

985,904 ÷ 4 = 246,476

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 246,476 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 4 246,476 492,952 985,904
-1 -2 -4 -246,476 -492,952 985,904
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12481643861723446881,4332,8665,73211,46422,92861,619123,238246,476492,952985,904
-1-2-4-8-16-43-86-172-344-688-1,433-2,866-5,732-11,464-22,928-61,619-123,238-246,476-492,952-985,904

More Examples

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