Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 253,908?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2539082 x 1269543 x 846364 x 634776 x 423189 x 2821212 x 2115918 x 1410627 x 940436 x 705354 x 4702108 x 2351
Negative: -1 x -253908-2 x -126954-3 x -84636-4 x -63477-6 x -42318-9 x -28212-12 x -21159-18 x -14106-27 x -9404-36 x -7053-54 x -4702-108 x -2351


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 253,908?

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 253,908, 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.

1 253,908
-1 -253,908

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 253,908.

Example:
1 x 253,908 = 253,908
and
-1 x -253,908 = 253,908
Notice both answers equal 253,908

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 253,908 and divide it by 2:

253,908 ÷ 2 = 126,954

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 126,954 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 2 126,954 253,908
-1 -2 -126,954 -253,908

Now, we try dividing 253,908 by 3:

253,908 ÷ 3 = 84,636

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 84,636 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 84,636 126,954 253,908
-1 -2 -3 -84,636 -126,954 -253,908

Let's try dividing by 4:

253,908 ÷ 4 = 63,477

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 63,477 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 63,477 84,636 126,954 253,908
-1 -2 -3 -4 -63,477 -84,636 -126,954 253,908
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12346912182736541082,3514,7027,0539,40414,10621,15928,21242,31863,47784,636126,954253,908
-1-2-3-4-6-9-12-18-27-36-54-108-2,351-4,702-7,053-9,404-14,106-21,159-28,212-42,318-63,477-84,636-126,954-253,908

More Examples

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