Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 30,540?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 305402 x 152703 x 101804 x 76355 x 61086 x 509010 x 305412 x 254515 x 203620 x 152730 x 101860 x 509
Negative: -1 x -30540-2 x -15270-3 x -10180-4 x -7635-5 x -6108-6 x -5090-10 x -3054-12 x -2545-15 x -2036-20 x -1527-30 x -1018-60 x -509


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 30,540?

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 30,540, 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 30,540
-1 -30,540

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 30,540.

Example:
1 x 30,540 = 30,540
and
-1 x -30,540 = 30,540
Notice both answers equal 30,540

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 30,540 and divide it by 2:

30,540 ÷ 2 = 15,270

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 15,270 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 15,270 30,540
-1 -2 -15,270 -30,540

Now, we try dividing 30,540 by 3:

30,540 ÷ 3 = 10,180

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 10,180 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 10,180 15,270 30,540
-1 -2 -3 -10,180 -15,270 -30,540

Let's try dividing by 4:

30,540 ÷ 4 = 7,635

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 7,635 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 7,635 10,180 15,270 30,540
-1 -2 -3 -4 -7,635 -10,180 -15,270 30,540
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234561012152030605091,0181,5272,0362,5453,0545,0906,1087,63510,18015,27030,540
-1-2-3-4-5-6-10-12-15-20-30-60-509-1,018-1,527-2,036-2,545-3,054-5,090-6,108-7,635-10,180-15,270-30,540

More Examples

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