Last updated on May 26th, 2025
Factors are the numbers that divide any given number evenly without remainder. In daily life, we use factors for tasks like sharing items equally, arranging things, etc. In this topic, we will learn about the factors of -480, how they are used in real life, and tips to learn them quickly.
The numbers that divide -480 evenly are known as factors of -480.
A factor of -480 is a number that divides the number without remainder.
The factors of -480 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 20, 24, 30, 32, 40, 48, 60, 80, 96, 120, 160, 240, and 480.
Negative factors of -480: -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -8, -10, -12, -15, -16, -20, -24, -30, -32, -40, -48, -60, -80, -96, -120, -160, -240, and -480.
Prime factors of -480: 2, 3, and 5.
Prime factorization of -480: 2^5 × 3 × 5.
The sum of factors of 480 (ignoring the negative sign): 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 15 + 16 + 20 + 24 + 30 + 32 + 40 + 48 + 60 + 80 + 96 + 120 + 160 + 240 + 480 = 1485
Factors can be found using different methods. Mentioned below are some commonly used methods:
To find factors using multiplication, we need to identify the pairs of numbers that are multiplied to give -480. Identifying the numbers which are multiplied to get the number -480 is the multiplication method.
Step 1: Multiply -480 by -1, -480 × -1 = 480.
Step 2: Check for other numbers that give 480 after multiplying
2 × 240 = 480
3 × 160 = 480
4 × 120 = 480
5 × 96 = 480
6 × 80 = 480
8 × 60 = 480
10 × 48 = 480
12 × 40 = 480
15 × 32 = 480
16 × 30 = 480
20 × 24 = 480
Therefore, the positive factor pairs of -480 are: (-1, 480), (-2, 240), (-3, 160), (-4, 120), (-5, 96), (-6, 80), (-8, 60), (-10, 48), (-12, 40), (-15, 32), (-16, 30), and (-20, 24). For every positive factor, there is a negative factor.
Dividing the given numbers with the whole numbers until the remainder becomes zero and listing out the numbers which result as whole numbers as factors. Factors can be calculated by following the simple division method -
Step 1: Divide -480 by -1, -480 ÷ -1 = 480.
Step 2: Continue dividing -480 by the numbers until the remainder becomes 0.
-480 ÷ 1 = -480
-480 ÷ 2 = -240
-480 ÷ 3 = -160
-480 ÷ 4 = -120
-480 ÷ 5 = -96
-480 ÷ 6 = -80
-480 ÷ 8 = -60
-480 ÷ 10 = -48
-480 ÷ 12 = -40
-480 ÷ 15 = -32
-480 ÷ 16 = -30
-480 ÷ 20 = -24
Therefore, the factors of -480 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 20, 24, 30, 32, 40, 48, 60, 80, 96, 120, 160, 240, 480.
The factors can be found by dividing with prime numbers. We can find the prime factors using the following methods:
Using Prime Factorization: In this process, prime factors of -480 divide the number to break it down in the multiplication form of prime factors till the remainder becomes 1.
480 ÷ 2 = 240
240 ÷ 2 = 120
120 ÷ 2 = 60
60 ÷ 2 = 30
30 ÷ 2 = 15
15 ÷ 3 = 5
5 ÷ 5 = 1
The prime factors of -480 are 2, 3, and 5.
The prime factorization of -480 is: 25 × 3 × 5.
The factor tree is the graphical representation of breaking down any number into prime factors. The following step shows -
Step 1: Firstly, 480 is divided by 2 to get 240.
Step 2: Now divide 240 by 2 to get 120.
Step 3: Then divide 120 by 2 to get 60.
Step 4: Divide 60 by 2 to get 30.
Step 5: Divide 30 by 2 to get 15.
Step 6: Divide 15 by 3 to get 5. Here, 5 is the smallest prime number, that cannot be divided anymore. So, the prime factorization of -480 is: 2^5 × 3 × 5.
Factor Pairs: Two numbers that are multiplied to give a specific number are called factor pairs. Both positive and negative factors constitute factor pairs.
Positive factor pairs of -480: (1, 480), (2, 240), (3, 160), (4, 120), (5, 96), (6, 80), (8, 60), (10, 48), (12, 40), (15, 32), (16, 30), and (20, 24).
Negative factor pairs of -480: (-1, -480), (-2, -240), (-3, -160), (-4, -120), (-5, -96), (-6, -80), (-8, -60), (-10, -48), (-12, -40), (-15, -32), (-16, -30), and (-20, -24).
Mistakes are common while finding factors. We can identify and correct those mistakes using the following common mistakes and the ways to avoid them.
There are 12 classrooms and -480 desks. How will the desks be divided equally?
Each classroom will get 40 desks.
To divide the desks equally, we need to divide the total desks by the number of classrooms.
-480/12 = -40
A garden is rectangular, the width of the garden is 20 meters and the total area is 480 square meters. Find the length?
24 meters.
To find the length of the garden, we use the formula, Area = length × width
480 = length × 20
To find the value of the length, we need to shift 20 to the left side. 480/20 = length
Length = 24.
There are 24 containers and -480 bottles. How many bottles will be in each container?
Each container will have 20 bottles.
To find the bottles in each container, divide the total bottles by the containers.
-480/24 = -20
In a theater, there are -480 seats, and 15 rows. How many seats are there in each row?
There are 32 seats in each row.
Dividing the seats by the total rows, we will get the number of seats in each row.
-480/15 = -32
480 apples need to be packed in 30 boxes. How many apples will go in each box?
Each box will have 16 apples.
Divide total apples by boxes.
480/30 = 16
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.