Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 24,248?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 242482 x 121244 x 60627 x 34648 x 303114 x 173228 x 86656 x 433
Negative: -1 x -24248-2 x -12124-4 x -6062-7 x -3464-8 x -3031-14 x -1732-28 x -866-56 x -433


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 24,248?

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 24,248, 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 24,248
-1 -24,248

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 24,248.

Example:
1 x 24,248 = 24,248
and
-1 x -24,248 = 24,248
Notice both answers equal 24,248

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 24,248 and divide it by 2:

24,248 ÷ 2 = 12,124

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 12,124 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 12,124 24,248
-1 -2 -12,124 -24,248

Now, we try dividing 24,248 by 3:

24,248 ÷ 3 = 8,082.6667

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 8,082.6667 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 12,124 24,248
-1 -2 -12,124 -24,248

Let's try dividing by 4:

24,248 ÷ 4 = 6,062

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 6,062 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 4 6,062 12,124 24,248
-1 -2 -4 -6,062 -12,124 24,248
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124781428564338661,7323,0313,4646,06212,12424,248
-1-2-4-7-8-14-28-56-433-866-1,732-3,031-3,464-6,062-12,124-24,248

More Examples

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