LCM Calculator
Through the Greatest Common Factor (GCF), also known as Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) calculator, you can select the preferred method. and the calculation will be shown with a detailed explanation.
You can simply click on another method to see its process, without having to re-enter the values from the beginning.
What is GCF?
Short form for Greatest Common Factor, GCF is the one factor that has the highest value among the common factors.
Other names of GCF include HCF and GCD.
How to find GCF?
It is a little tricky to find GCF, that is why the GCF finder above is recommended. But for your information and concept, we will see how to find GCF in detail.
The famous methods used for calculating GCF are:
- Prime factorization
- Division method
- List of factors
You can see the example of prime factorization in the HCF and LCM calculator. In this post, we will learn the remaining two methods through examples.
1. Division method:
Example:
Find the GCF of 14 and 20 through the division method.
Solution:
Step 1: Use the higher value as a dividend and the lower value as the divisor.
Larger value = 20
Lower value = 14
Step 2: Divide by the nearest multiple.
The nearest value to 20 in 14’s time's table is 14 itself.
Step 3: Continue until no more can be solved. The last divisor is GCF (HCF).
2. List of Factors:
Example:
What is the greatest common factor of 12, 16, 29? Use the list of factors method.
Solution:
Step 1: Write all the factors of 12, 16, and 29.
Factors of 12 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.
Factors of 16 = 1, 2, 4, 8, 16.
Factors of 29 = 1, 29.
Step 2: Look for the common factors.
There is only one common factor among these three numbers i.e 1.
Step 3: Identify the greatest common factor.
Since there is no other factor, 1 will be the GCF of 12, 16, and 29.
