Greatest Common Factor (GCF)

Mahalo math expert Allison Moffett discusses great common factors (GCF).

Greatest Common Factor (GCF)
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The greatest common factor of two numbers is the largest whole number that is a factor of both the original numbers. See the example to better understand how to factor two numbers (24, 42) and find their great common factor.First, find the prime factorizations of each number by breaking each number down into its most prime form. Then, compare the prime factors of both numbers. The greatest common factor will be the largest whole numbers that the two numbers have in common.The set (24, 42) has the greatest common factors (2 • 3). So, the great common factor of (24, 42) is 6.

Find the greatest common factor, of GCF, using prime factorization of numbers (20, 48).First, find the prime factorization of the two numbers. Do this by breaking each number down into the factors that make it. Break each down into all prime numbers, numbers that can no longer be divided into.Then, to find the GCF, take the greatest number that the two factorizations have in common. Make sure it is a number that they have in common. If the base numbers are the same, you will take the lower power of the two.You find that 4 is the greatest common factor.

Read more by visiting our page at:

[lingsto]

I've never been so interested in Math in my life

[Blinkster]

Nice she explains it better than my math book :)