Q: What are the factor combinations of the number 987,543,246?

 A:
Positive:   1 x 9875432462 x 4937716233 x 3291810826 x 16459054137 x 2669035843 x 2296612274 x 1334517986 x 11483061111 x 8896786129 x 7655374222 x 4448393258 x 38276871591 x 6207063182 x 3103534773 x 2069029546 x 103451
Negative: -1 x -987543246-2 x -493771623-3 x -329181082-6 x -164590541-37 x -26690358-43 x -22966122-74 x -13345179-86 x -11483061-111 x -8896786-129 x -7655374-222 x -4448393-258 x -3827687-1591 x -620706-3182 x -310353-4773 x -206902-9546 x -103451


How do I find the factor combinations of the number 987,543,246?

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 987,543,246, 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.

1 987,543,246
-1 -987,543,246

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 987,543,246.

Example:
1 x 987,543,246 = 987,543,246
and
-1 x -987,543,246 = 987,543,246
Notice both answers equal 987,543,246

With that explanation out of the way, let's continue. Next, we take the number 987,543,246 and divide it by 2:

987,543,246 ÷ 2 = 493,771,623

If the quotient is a whole number, then 2 and 493,771,623 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 2 493,771,623 987,543,246
-1 -2 -493,771,623 -987,543,246

Now, we try dividing 987,543,246 by 3:

987,543,246 ÷ 3 = 329,181,082

If the quotient is a whole number, then 3 and 329,181,082 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 3 329,181,082 493,771,623 987,543,246
-1 -2 -3 -329,181,082 -493,771,623 -987,543,246

Let's try dividing by 4:

987,543,246 ÷ 4 = 246,885,811.5

If the quotient is a whole number, then 4 and 246,885,811.5 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 3 329,181,082 493,771,623 987,543,246
-1 -2 -3 -329,181,082 -493,771,623 987,543,246
Keep dividing by the next highest number until you cannot divide anymore.

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

1236374374861111292222581,5913,1824,7739,546103,451206,902310,353620,7063,827,6874,448,3937,655,3748,896,78611,483,06113,345,17922,966,12226,690,358164,590,541329,181,082493,771,623987,543,246
-1-2-3-6-37-43-74-86-111-129-222-258-1,591-3,182-4,773-9,546-103,451-206,902-310,353-620,706-3,827,687-4,448,393-7,655,374-8,896,786-11,483,061-13,345,179-22,966,122-26,690,358-164,590,541-329,181,082-493,771,623-987,543,246

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