Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 12,924?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 129242 x 64623 x 43084 x 32316 x 21549 x 143612 x 107718 x 71836 x 359
Negative: -1 x -12924-2 x -6462-3 x -4308-4 x -3231-6 x -2154-9 x -1436-12 x -1077-18 x -718-36 x -359


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 12,924?

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 12,924, 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 12,924
-1 -12,924

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 12,924.

Example:
1 x 12,924 = 12,924
and
-1 x -12,924 = 12,924
Notice both answers equal 12,924

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 12,924 and divide it by 2:

12,924 ÷ 2 = 6,462

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 6,462 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 6,462 12,924
-1 -2 -6,462 -12,924

Now, we try dividing 12,924 by 3:

12,924 ÷ 3 = 4,308

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 4,308 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 3 4,308 6,462 12,924
-1 -2 -3 -4,308 -6,462 -12,924

Let's try dividing by 4:

12,924 ÷ 4 = 3,231

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 3,231 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 3,231 4,308 6,462 12,924
-1 -2 -3 -4 -3,231 -4,308 -6,462 12,924
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234691218363597181,0771,4362,1543,2314,3086,46212,924
-1-2-3-4-6-9-12-18-36-359-718-1,077-1,436-2,154-3,231-4,308-6,462-12,924

More Examples

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