Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 85,836?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 858362 x 429183 x 286124 x 214596 x 1430612 x 715323 x 373246 x 186669 x 124492 x 933138 x 622276 x 311
Negative: -1 x -85836-2 x -42918-3 x -28612-4 x -21459-6 x -14306-12 x -7153-23 x -3732-46 x -1866-69 x -1244-92 x -933-138 x -622-276 x -311


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 85,836?

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 85,836, 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 85,836
-1 -85,836

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 85,836.

Example:
1 x 85,836 = 85,836
and
-1 x -85,836 = 85,836
Notice both answers equal 85,836

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 85,836 and divide it by 2:

85,836 ÷ 2 = 42,918

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 42,918 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 42,918 85,836
-1 -2 -42,918 -85,836

Now, we try dividing 85,836 by 3:

85,836 ÷ 3 = 28,612

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 28,612 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 28,612 42,918 85,836
-1 -2 -3 -28,612 -42,918 -85,836

Let's try dividing by 4:

85,836 ÷ 4 = 21,459

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 21,459 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 21,459 28,612 42,918 85,836
-1 -2 -3 -4 -21,459 -28,612 -42,918 85,836
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1234612234669921382763116229331,2441,8663,7327,15314,30621,45928,61242,91885,836
-1-2-3-4-6-12-23-46-69-92-138-276-311-622-933-1,244-1,866-3,732-7,153-14,306-21,459-28,612-42,918-85,836

More Examples

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