What is the greatest common factor? How do you know when you have found the greatest one?

Question

mathlegend · Answer

The Greatest Common Factor is the number that is the largest that goes into all the numbers that are listed.

mathlegend · Answer

For instance if I said find the GCF of: 18,  36,  24

mathlegend · Answer

@kevingretzky well we know that 2 goes into all three numbers, right?

mathlegend · Answer

However, that is not the largest number that goes into all three.

mathlegend · Answer

What about 3? Yes, 3 goes into all three numbers but there is a greater number.

mathlegend · Answer

How about 6? Well, 6 seems like the greatest common factor because if you go above 6 what number will go into all three of those numbers?

mathlegend · Answer

So, basically, you need to just think logically.

mathlegend · Answer

Also you must know your multiplication.

mathlegend · Answer

Does that help any @kevingretzky

anonymous · Answer

yes thank you