Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 36,144?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 361442 x 180723 x 120484 x 90366 x 60248 x 45189 x 401612 x 301216 x 225918 x 200824 x 150636 x 100448 x 75372 x 502144 x 251
Negative: -1 x -36144-2 x -18072-3 x -12048-4 x -9036-6 x -6024-8 x -4518-9 x -4016-12 x -3012-16 x -2259-18 x -2008-24 x -1506-36 x -1004-48 x -753-72 x -502-144 x -251


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 36,144?

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 36,144, 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 36,144
-1 -36,144

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 36,144.

Example:
1 x 36,144 = 36,144
and
-1 x -36,144 = 36,144
Notice both answers equal 36,144

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 36,144 and divide it by 2:

36,144 ÷ 2 = 18,072

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 18,072 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 18,072 36,144
-1 -2 -18,072 -36,144

Now, we try dividing 36,144 by 3:

36,144 ÷ 3 = 12,048

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 12,048 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 12,048 18,072 36,144
-1 -2 -3 -12,048 -18,072 -36,144

Let's try dividing by 4:

36,144 ÷ 4 = 9,036

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 9,036 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 9,036 12,048 18,072 36,144
-1 -2 -3 -4 -9,036 -12,048 -18,072 36,144
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234689121618243648721442515027531,0041,5062,0082,2593,0124,0164,5186,0249,03612,04818,07236,144
-1-2-3-4-6-8-9-12-16-18-24-36-48-72-144-251-502-753-1,004-1,506-2,008-2,259-3,012-4,016-4,518-6,024-9,036-12,048-18,072-36,144

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