Find out the Greatest Common Factor?
The largest number that is a common factor of two numbers (that is, both numbers share the same factor) is called the greatest common factor. The term is abbreviated as GCF.
To find the GCF of two numbers:
List all the factors of each number.
Find all the factors the two numbers have in common.
Identify the largest factor.
Example: Find the GCF of (36, 42)
Step 1:
The factors of 36 are {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36}
The factors of 42 are {1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 42}
Step 2: Compare the numbers and write down the common factors in order from smallest to largest.
The common factors of (36, 42) are {1, 2, 3, 6}.
Step 3: Find the largest number of the common factors.
The number 6 is the largest of the common factors. So, 6 is the GCF of (36, 42).