Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 31,032?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 310322 x 155163 x 103444 x 77586 x 51728 x 38799 x 344812 x 258618 x 172424 x 129336 x 86272 x 431
Negative: -1 x -31032-2 x -15516-3 x -10344-4 x -7758-6 x -5172-8 x -3879-9 x -3448-12 x -2586-18 x -1724-24 x -1293-36 x -862-72 x -431


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 31,032?

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 31,032, 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 31,032
-1 -31,032

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 31,032.

Example:
1 x 31,032 = 31,032
and
-1 x -31,032 = 31,032
Notice both answers equal 31,032

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 31,032 and divide it by 2:

31,032 ÷ 2 = 15,516

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 15,516 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 15,516 31,032
-1 -2 -15,516 -31,032

Now, we try dividing 31,032 by 3:

31,032 ÷ 3 = 10,344

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 10,344 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 10,344 15,516 31,032
-1 -2 -3 -10,344 -15,516 -31,032

Let's try dividing by 4:

31,032 ÷ 4 = 7,758

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 7,758 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 7,758 10,344 15,516 31,032
-1 -2 -3 -4 -7,758 -10,344 -15,516 31,032
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

123468912182436724318621,2931,7242,5863,4483,8795,1727,75810,34415,51631,032
-1-2-3-4-6-8-9-12-18-24-36-72-431-862-1,293-1,724-2,586-3,448-3,879-5,172-7,758-10,344-15,516-31,032

More Examples

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