are factor and divisor the same thing?

factors are for multiplication. divisors are for division.

some body said to use the Euclidean Algorithm, but I have no idea what that is :gcd( 118, 204 ) = gcd ( 118, 204 - 118 ) = gcd ( 118, 86 ) = gcd ( 118 - 86, 86 ) = gcd ( 32, 86 ) = gcd ( 32, 86 - 32 ) = gcd ( 32, 54 ) = gcd ( 32, 54 - 32 ) = gcd ( 32, 22 ) = gcd ( 10, 22 ) = gcd ( 10, 2 ) = 2 -Like whaaaaaaaat? I just you my brain so can some body please tell me: WHAT IS THIS?

Don't use the Euclidean Algorithm because while it does work, it is inefficient and mistakes will most likely happen around the middle. Try using prime factorization instead. it is much faster than using the Euclidean Algorithm.

What is a quicker way to do this?

A very quick way is to use the cake/ladder method.

this is comfusing can you help

so just list all its divisors and see the biggest one that divides both of them.

Main content

Course: 6th grade (Illustrative Mathematics) > Unit 7

Lesson 16: Lesson 16: Common factors

Greatest common factor review

Google Classroom

Review greatest common factors (GCF) and try some practice problems.

What is GCF?

GCF stands for greatest common factor. The greatest common factor of two numbers is the greatest number that is a factor of both of them.

Finding greatest common factor

One way to find the GCF of two (or more!) numbers is to list the factors of each number and find the greatest factor they have in common.

Want to learn more about greatest common factors? Check out this video.

Example: GCF of $12$ ‍ and $18$ ‍

Factors of

12

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

Factors of

18

1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18

1, 2, 3

and

6

are common factors of

12

and

18

. Which of these is the greatest?

6

is the greatest factor that

12

and

18

have in common.

gcf (12, 18) = 6

Practice

Problem 1

What is the greatest common factor of $8$ ‍ and $14$ ‍?

Another way to say this is:

gcf (8, 14) = ?

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

Want to join the conversation?

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mjepp10
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to mjepp10's post “are factor and divisor th...”
are factor and divisor the same thing?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on mjepp10's post “are factor and divisor th...”
(28 votes)
Answer
- MetalMan_Z
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to MetalMan_Z's post “factors are for multiplic...”
  factors are for multiplication.
  divisors are for division.
  Comment on MetalMan_Z's post “factors are for multiplic...”
  (14 votes)
CheyenneE
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to CheyenneE's post “some body said to use the...”
some body said to use the Euclidean Algorithm, but I have no idea what that is :gcd( 118, 204 )
= gcd ( 118, 204 - 118 )
= gcd ( 118, 86 )
= gcd ( 118 - 86, 86 )
= gcd ( 32, 86 )
= gcd ( 32, 86 - 32 )
= gcd ( 32, 54 )
= gcd ( 32, 54 - 32 )
= gcd ( 32, 22 )
= gcd ( 10, 22 )
= gcd ( 10, 2 )
= 2
-Like whaaaaaaaat? I just you my brain so can some body please tell me: WHAT IS THIS?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on CheyenneE's post “some body said to use the...”
(14 votes)
Answer
- allyson
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to allyson's post “Don't use the Euclidean A...”
  Don't use the Euclidean Algorithm because while it does work, it is inefficient and mistakes will most likely happen around the middle. Try using prime factorization instead. it is much faster than using the Euclidean Algorithm.
  Comment on allyson's post “Don't use the Euclidean A...”
  (4 votes)
Layla Green
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Layla Green's post “What is a quicker way to ...”
What is a quicker way to do this?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Layla Green's post “What is a quicker way to ...”
(10 votes)
Answer
- riyaa
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to riyaa's post “A very quick way is to us...”
  A very quick way is to use the cake/ladder method.
  Comment on riyaa's post “A very quick way is to us...”
  (9 votes)
chase
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to chase's post “this is comfusing can you...”
this is comfusing can you help
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(10 votes)
Answer
- RobertK
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to RobertK's post “so just list all its divi...”
  so just list all its divisors and see the biggest one that divides both of them.
  Comment on RobertK's post “so just list all its divi...”
  (2 votes)
stu-mahabir.pamela@hasdpa.net
Posted a year ago. Direct link to stu-mahabir.pamela@hasdpa.net's post “as my fortune cookie once...”
as my fortune cookie once said "never let things that dont matter distract you" :)
Button navigates to signup pageComment on stu-mahabir.pamela@hasdpa.net's post “as my fortune cookie once...”
(10 votes)
Answer
srios74
Posted 7 months ago. Direct link to srios74's post “I'm a little bit confused...”
I'm a little bit confused but I'm confident that my scores going to be good Hope me luck (<0>_<0>)
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(6 votes)
Answer
lillyan
Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to lillyan's post “why wold we do this”
why wold we do this
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(6 votes)
Answer
malvarez
Posted 7 months ago. Direct link to malvarez's post “that was super easy”
that was super easy
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(5 votes)
Answer
David Santillan
Posted 7 months ago. Direct link to David Santillan's post “pretty simple for math.”
pretty simple for math.
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(4 votes)
Answer
evanfernandez
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to evanfernandez's post “where do i find more gcf ...”
where do i find more gcf practice
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(2 votes)
Answer
- aditisankara
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to aditisankara's post “Or maybe try IXL.COM”
  Or maybe try IXL.COM
  Comment on aditisankara's post “Or maybe try IXL.COM”
  (5 votes)

6th grade (Illustrative Mathematics)