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.

Main content

6th grade

Course: 6th grade > Unit 6

Lesson 11: Greatest common factor

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 5 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...”
(21 votes)
Answer
- MetalMan_Z
  Posted 2 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...”
  (9 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?
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(9 votes)
Answer
- riyaa
  Posted 3 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...”
  (8 votes)
CheyenneE
Posted a year 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...”
(12 votes)
Answer
- allyson
  Posted 10 months 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)
chase
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to chase's post “this is comfusing can you...”
this is comfusing can you help
Button navigates to signup pageComment on chase's post “this is comfusing can you...”
(9 votes)
Answer
- RobertK
  Posted 2 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...”
  (1 vote)
Mav
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Mav's post “why do i hate math”
why do i hate math
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(0 votes)
Answer
- Salvador
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Salvador's post “Because u don't want to d...”
  Because u don't want to do it.
  Comment on Salvador's post “Because u don't want to d...”
  (18 votes)
AmariusT
Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to AmariusT's post “never going to do this ag...”
never going to do this again
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(4 votes)
Answer
- 🥇🌹Brooky💜🦓
  Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to 🥇🌹Brooky💜🦓's post “Why?”
  Why?
  Button navigates to signup page
  (5 votes)
malvarez
Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to malvarez's post “that was super easy”
that was super easy
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(6 votes)
Answer
Tara
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Tara's post “How do i not know this?! ...”
How do i not know this?! 😰
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(4 votes)
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303327
Posted 9 months ago. Direct link to 303327's post “hello cool beans this is ...”
hello cool beans this is 2023 i am from the future
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(6 votes)
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- prathyushajangam29
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to prathyushajangam29's post “hello there reeseypop i a...”
  hello there reeseypop i am also from
  2023
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  (1 vote)
stu-mahabir.pamela@hasdpa.net
Posted 7 months 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" :)
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(6 votes)
Answer