Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 10,872?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 108722 x 54363 x 36244 x 27186 x 18128 x 13599 x 120812 x 90618 x 60424 x 45336 x 30272 x 151
Negative: -1 x -10872-2 x -5436-3 x -3624-4 x -2718-6 x -1812-8 x -1359-9 x -1208-12 x -906-18 x -604-24 x -453-36 x -302-72 x -151


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 10,872?

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 10,872, 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 10,872
-1 -10,872

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 10,872.

Example:
1 x 10,872 = 10,872
and
-1 x -10,872 = 10,872
Notice both answers equal 10,872

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 10,872 and divide it by 2:

10,872 ÷ 2 = 5,436

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 5,436 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 5,436 10,872
-1 -2 -5,436 -10,872

Now, we try dividing 10,872 by 3:

10,872 ÷ 3 = 3,624

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 3,624 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 3,624 5,436 10,872
-1 -2 -3 -3,624 -5,436 -10,872

Let's try dividing by 4:

10,872 ÷ 4 = 2,718

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 2,718 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 2,718 3,624 5,436 10,872
-1 -2 -3 -4 -2,718 -3,624 -5,436 10,872
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468912182436721513024536049061,2081,3591,8122,7183,6245,43610,872
-1-2-3-4-6-8-9-12-18-24-36-72-151-302-453-604-906-1,208-1,359-1,812-2,718-3,624-5,436-10,872

More Examples

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