Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 398,547?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 3985473 x 1328499 x 4428327 x 1476129 x 1374387 x 4581261 x 1527509 x 783
Negative: -1 x -398547-3 x -132849-9 x -44283-27 x -14761-29 x -13743-87 x -4581-261 x -1527-509 x -783


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 398,547?

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 398,547, 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.

1 398,547
-1 -398,547

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 398,547.

Example:
1 x 398,547 = 398,547
and
-1 x -398,547 = 398,547
Notice both answers equal 398,547

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 398,547 and divide it by 2:

398,547 ÷ 2 = 199,273.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 199,273.5 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:

1 398,547
-1 -398,547

Now, we try dividing 398,547 by 3:

398,547 ÷ 3 = 132,849

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 132,849 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 3 132,849 398,547
-1 -3 -132,849 -398,547

Let's try dividing by 4:

398,547 ÷ 4 = 99,636.75

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 99,636.75 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 3 132,849 398,547
-1 -3 -132,849 398,547
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1392729872615097831,5274,58113,74314,76144,283132,849398,547
-1-3-9-27-29-87-261-509-783-1,527-4,581-13,743-14,761-44,283-132,849-398,547

More Examples

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