Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 37,398?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 373982 x 186993 x 124666 x 623323 x 162646 x 81369 x 542138 x 271
Negative: -1 x -37398-2 x -18699-3 x -12466-6 x -6233-23 x -1626-46 x -813-69 x -542-138 x -271


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 37,398?

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 37,398, 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 37,398
-1 -37,398

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 37,398.

Example:
1 x 37,398 = 37,398
and
-1 x -37,398 = 37,398
Notice both answers equal 37,398

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 37,398 and divide it by 2:

37,398 ÷ 2 = 18,699

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 18,699 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 18,699 37,398
-1 -2 -18,699 -37,398

Now, we try dividing 37,398 by 3:

37,398 ÷ 3 = 12,466

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 12,466 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 12,466 18,699 37,398
-1 -2 -3 -12,466 -18,699 -37,398

Let's try dividing by 4:

37,398 ÷ 4 = 9,349.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 9,349.5 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 3 12,466 18,699 37,398
-1 -2 -3 -12,466 -18,699 37,398
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

12362346691382715428131,6266,23312,46618,69937,398
-1-2-3-6-23-46-69-138-271-542-813-1,626-6,233-12,466-18,699-37,398

More Examples

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