Im trying to teach my nephew how to get the common factor from 8, 4, 10. It is easy for me but I dont really know how to help her. Please teach me how to do that.

Question

anonymous · Answer

write out all factors
look for same ones in all of them

1, 2, 4, 8
1, 2, 3, 
1, 2, 4, 10

common factors: 1, 2

anonymous · Answer

ahhh eassy. Thanks again

anonymous · Answer

cheers ^_^

radar · Answer

The common factor for those three numbers other than 1, is 2.  2 is common to all three

anonymous · Answer

I'm pretty sure i wrote that? :x

radar · Answer

Well what confused me was you had listed 3 as a factor, all be it not common, but I don't see 3 as a factor for any of those numbers.

anonymous · Answer

oooo
so sorry x_X
EMUN i made a couple of typos

look for same ones in all of them

1, 2, 4, 8
1, 2, 4 <-- here
1, 2, 5, 10
        ^-- and here

thanks radar

anonymous · Answer

but it's still 1, 2 
i got lucky :P

anonymous · Answer

Can you help me with this 1/2, 3,2, 1/2. I know the common term is 1/2.  But how to teach it in a simple way?

radar · Answer

You were right, in fact I missed the last line, guess I was focused on the 3 lol

anonymous · Answer

I don't think I've done common factors with fractions...

actually, i was just doing it, i dont' think this is possible....whats your take radar?
there are unlimited fraction pairs that can be used to obtain 1/2, 2, 3...

radar · Answer

I agree, using fractions as factors is not normally done, usually integers when dealing with numbers.

anonymous · Answer

Im not sure of this, but i do the following:

Put the fraction in its simplest terms.
1/2=1*1/2
3/2=3*1/2
1/2=1*1/2
The common term is 1/2. This is the way my brain processes the problem. Again, im not sure of it. Lets try with another example. You give me one please

radar · Answer

well in that case what is to prevent you from saying 1/2=2* 1/4, 4*1/8 etc.

anonymous · Answer

right, but i can argue that

1/2 = 4/3 * 3/8
3/2 = 4/3 * 1/2
1/2 = 4/3 * 3/8

then 4/3 is also a common factor 
you have INFINITY pairs with fractions
i think this question is invalid
unless the answer is that there ISN'T one? Oo

anonymous · Answer

ahhh OK. Got it. YOu mean there is not a way of finding a common factor from a fraction?

anonymous · Answer

I don't believe so.

radar · Answer

What are you studying, addition and subtracting of fractions?

anonymous · Answer

But there is not an specific rule for doing this. We have to think about it first

radar · Answer

Of course fractions have factors, but there can be lots and lots of them, you must have some purpose when factoring fractions?

anonymous · Answer

the specific rule for finding common factors is first writing out all factors for each number
and then seeing the common ones
however, like i said before, with fractions, you have an unlimited amount of factors, you can find an unlimited amount of common factors

anonymous · Answer

Ok thanks