Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 262,132?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 2621322 x 1310664 x 6553313 x 2016426 x 1008252 x 504171 x 3692142 x 1846284 x 923
Negative: -1 x -262132-2 x -131066-4 x -65533-13 x -20164-26 x -10082-52 x -5041-71 x -3692-142 x -1846-284 x -923


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 262,132?

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 262,132, 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.

1 262,132
-1 -262,132

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 262,132.

Example:
1 x 262,132 = 262,132
and
-1 x -262,132 = 262,132
Notice both answers equal 262,132

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 262,132 and divide it by 2:

262,132 ÷ 2 = 131,066

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 131,066 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 2 131,066 262,132
-1 -2 -131,066 -262,132

Now, we try dividing 262,132 by 3:

262,132 ÷ 3 = 87,377.3333

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 87,377.3333 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 2 131,066 262,132
-1 -2 -131,066 -262,132

Let's try dividing by 4:

262,132 ÷ 4 = 65,533

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 65,533 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 65,533 131,066 262,132
-1 -2 -4 -65,533 -131,066 262,132
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

124132652711422849231,8463,6925,04110,08220,16465,533131,066262,132
-1-2-4-13-26-52-71-142-284-923-1,846-3,692-5,041-10,082-20,164-65,533-131,066-262,132

More Examples

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