Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 18,552?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 185522 x 92763 x 61844 x 46386 x 30928 x 231912 x 154624 x 773
Negative: -1 x -18552-2 x -9276-3 x -6184-4 x -4638-6 x -3092-8 x -2319-12 x -1546-24 x -773


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 18,552?

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 18,552, 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 18,552
-1 -18,552

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 18,552.

Example:
1 x 18,552 = 18,552
and
-1 x -18,552 = 18,552
Notice both answers equal 18,552

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 18,552 and divide it by 2:

18,552 ÷ 2 = 9,276

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 9,276 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 9,276 18,552
-1 -2 -9,276 -18,552

Now, we try dividing 18,552 by 3:

18,552 ÷ 3 = 6,184

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 6,184 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 6,184 9,276 18,552
-1 -2 -3 -6,184 -9,276 -18,552

Let's try dividing by 4:

18,552 ÷ 4 = 4,638

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 4,638 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 4,638 6,184 9,276 18,552
-1 -2 -3 -4 -4,638 -6,184 -9,276 18,552
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346812247731,5462,3193,0924,6386,1849,27618,552
-1-2-3-4-6-8-12-24-773-1,546-2,319-3,092-4,638-6,184-9,276-18,552

More Examples

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