Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 23,724?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 237242 x 118623 x 79084 x 59316 x 39549 x 263612 x 197718 x 131836 x 659
Negative: -1 x -23724-2 x -11862-3 x -7908-4 x -5931-6 x -3954-9 x -2636-12 x -1977-18 x -1318-36 x -659


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 23,724?

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 23,724, 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 23,724
-1 -23,724

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 23,724.

Example:
1 x 23,724 = 23,724
and
-1 x -23,724 = 23,724
Notice both answers equal 23,724

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 23,724 and divide it by 2:

23,724 ÷ 2 = 11,862

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 11,862 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 11,862 23,724
-1 -2 -11,862 -23,724

Now, we try dividing 23,724 by 3:

23,724 ÷ 3 = 7,908

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 7,908 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 7,908 11,862 23,724
-1 -2 -3 -7,908 -11,862 -23,724

Let's try dividing by 4:

23,724 ÷ 4 = 5,931

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 5,931 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 5,931 7,908 11,862 23,724
-1 -2 -3 -4 -5,931 -7,908 -11,862 23,724
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234691218366591,3181,9772,6363,9545,9317,90811,86223,724
-1-2-3-4-6-9-12-18-36-659-1,318-1,977-2,636-3,954-5,931-7,908-11,862-23,724

More Examples

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