Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 13,980?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 139802 x 69903 x 46604 x 34955 x 27966 x 233010 x 139812 x 116515 x 93220 x 69930 x 46660 x 233
Negative: -1 x -13980-2 x -6990-3 x -4660-4 x -3495-5 x -2796-6 x -2330-10 x -1398-12 x -1165-15 x -932-20 x -699-30 x -466-60 x -233


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 13,980?

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 13,980, 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 13,980
-1 -13,980

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 13,980.

Example:
1 x 13,980 = 13,980
and
-1 x -13,980 = 13,980
Notice both answers equal 13,980

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 13,980 and divide it by 2:

13,980 ÷ 2 = 6,990

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 6,990 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 6,990 13,980
-1 -2 -6,990 -13,980

Now, we try dividing 13,980 by 3:

13,980 ÷ 3 = 4,660

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 4,660 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 4,660 6,990 13,980
-1 -2 -3 -4,660 -6,990 -13,980

Let's try dividing by 4:

13,980 ÷ 4 = 3,495

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 3,495 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 3,495 4,660 6,990 13,980
-1 -2 -3 -4 -3,495 -4,660 -6,990 13,980
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234561012152030602334666999321,1651,3982,3302,7963,4954,6606,99013,980
-1-2-3-4-5-6-10-12-15-20-30-60-233-466-699-932-1,165-1,398-2,330-2,796-3,495-4,660-6,990-13,980

More Examples

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