Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 21,828?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 218282 x 109143 x 72764 x 54576 x 363812 x 181917 x 128434 x 64251 x 42868 x 321102 x 214107 x 204
Negative: -1 x -21828-2 x -10914-3 x -7276-4 x -5457-6 x -3638-12 x -1819-17 x -1284-34 x -642-51 x -428-68 x -321-102 x -214-107 x -204


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 21,828?

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 21,828, 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 21,828
-1 -21,828

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 21,828.

Example:
1 x 21,828 = 21,828
and
-1 x -21,828 = 21,828
Notice both answers equal 21,828

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 21,828 and divide it by 2:

21,828 ÷ 2 = 10,914

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 10,914 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 10,914 21,828
-1 -2 -10,914 -21,828

Now, we try dividing 21,828 by 3:

21,828 ÷ 3 = 7,276

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 7,276 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 3 7,276 10,914 21,828
-1 -2 -3 -7,276 -10,914 -21,828

Let's try dividing by 4:

21,828 ÷ 4 = 5,457

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 5,457 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 5,457 7,276 10,914 21,828
-1 -2 -3 -4 -5,457 -7,276 -10,914 21,828
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234612173451681021072042143214286421,2841,8193,6385,4577,27610,91421,828
-1-2-3-4-6-12-17-34-51-68-102-107-204-214-321-428-642-1,284-1,819-3,638-5,457-7,276-10,914-21,828

More Examples

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