Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 12,504?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 125042 x 62523 x 41684 x 31266 x 20848 x 156312 x 104224 x 521
Negative: -1 x -12504-2 x -6252-3 x -4168-4 x -3126-6 x -2084-8 x -1563-12 x -1042-24 x -521


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 12,504?

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 12,504, 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 12,504
-1 -12,504

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 12,504.

Example:
1 x 12,504 = 12,504
and
-1 x -12,504 = 12,504
Notice both answers equal 12,504

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 12,504 and divide it by 2:

12,504 ÷ 2 = 6,252

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 6,252 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 6,252 12,504
-1 -2 -6,252 -12,504

Now, we try dividing 12,504 by 3:

12,504 ÷ 3 = 4,168

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 4,168 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 4,168 6,252 12,504
-1 -2 -3 -4,168 -6,252 -12,504

Let's try dividing by 4:

12,504 ÷ 4 = 3,126

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 3,126 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 3,126 4,168 6,252 12,504
-1 -2 -3 -4 -3,126 -4,168 -6,252 12,504
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346812245211,0421,5632,0843,1264,1686,25212,504
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-521-1,042-1,563-2,084-3,126-4,168-6,252-12,504

More Examples

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