Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 46,476?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 464762 x 232383 x 154924 x 116196 x 77469 x 516412 x 387318 x 258236 x 1291
Negative: -1 x -46476-2 x -23238-3 x -15492-4 x -11619-6 x -7746-9 x -5164-12 x -3873-18 x -2582-36 x -1291


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 46,476?

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 46,476, 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 46,476
-1 -46,476

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 46,476.

Example:
1 x 46,476 = 46,476
and
-1 x -46,476 = 46,476
Notice both answers equal 46,476

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 46,476 and divide it by 2:

46,476 ÷ 2 = 23,238

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 23,238 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 23,238 46,476
-1 -2 -23,238 -46,476

Now, we try dividing 46,476 by 3:

46,476 ÷ 3 = 15,492

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 15,492 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 15,492 23,238 46,476
-1 -2 -3 -15,492 -23,238 -46,476

Let's try dividing by 4:

46,476 ÷ 4 = 11,619

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 11,619 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 11,619 15,492 23,238 46,476
-1 -2 -3 -4 -11,619 -15,492 -23,238 46,476
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234691218361,2912,5823,8735,1647,74611,61915,49223,23846,476
-1-2-3-4-6-9-12-18-36-1,291-2,582-3,873-5,164-7,746-11,619-15,492-23,238-46,476

More Examples

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