Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 172,782?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 1727822 x 863913 x 575946 x 287979 x 1919818 x 959929 x 595858 x 297987 x 1986174 x 993261 x 662331 x 522
Negative: -1 x -172782-2 x -86391-3 x -57594-6 x -28797-9 x -19198-18 x -9599-29 x -5958-58 x -2979-87 x -1986-174 x -993-261 x -662-331 x -522


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 172,782?

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 172,782, 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.

1 172,782
-1 -172,782

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 172,782.

Example:
1 x 172,782 = 172,782
and
-1 x -172,782 = 172,782
Notice both answers equal 172,782

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 172,782 and divide it by 2:

172,782 ÷ 2 = 86,391

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 86,391 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 86,391 172,782
-1 -2 -86,391 -172,782

Now, we try dividing 172,782 by 3:

172,782 ÷ 3 = 57,594

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 57,594 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 57,594 86,391 172,782
-1 -2 -3 -57,594 -86,391 -172,782

Let's try dividing by 4:

172,782 ÷ 4 = 43,195.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 43,195.5 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 3 57,594 86,391 172,782
-1 -2 -3 -57,594 -86,391 172,782
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12369182958871742613315226629931,9862,9795,9589,59919,19828,79757,59486,391172,782
-1-2-3-6-9-18-29-58-87-174-261-331-522-662-993-1,986-2,979-5,958-9,599-19,198-28,797-57,594-86,391-172,782

More Examples

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