Can somebody give me a good explanation on how to find the Greatest Common Factor on a 6th-7th garde level? Thanks. I was absent yesterday and I have a quiz on this TOMORROW!
These sites have great explanations.
http://www.helpwithfractions.com/greatest-common-factor.html
http://www.math.com/school/subject1/lessons/S1U3L2GL.html
Thanks! :D
Of course! I'll be happy to explain how to find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) on a 6th-7th grade level.
The Greatest Common Factor represents the largest number that can evenly divide two or more given numbers. To find the GCF, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Make a list of factors for each given number.
Start by listing all the factors of each number separately. Factors are the numbers that can evenly divide a given number without leaving a remainder. For example, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.
Step 2: Identify the common factors.
Look for the factors that appear on both of your lists. These are the common factors shared by the given numbers. For example, if you're trying to find the GCF of 12 and 18, the common factors are 1, 2, 3, and 6.
Step 3: Determine the greatest common factor.
Finally, select the largest number from the common factors. This number will be the GCF. In our example, the largest common factor is 6, so the GCF of 12 and 18 is 6.
To make the process faster, you can also use a method called prime factorization. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Write the prime factorization of each given number.
Find the prime factors of each number. Prime numbers are those that are only divisible by 1 and themselves. For example, the prime factorization of 12 is 2 x 2 x 3, and the prime factorization of 18 is 2 x 3 x 3.
Step 2: Identify the common prime factors.
Look for the prime factors that are common to both numbers. In our example, the common prime factors are 2 and 3.
Step 3: Multiply the common prime factors.
Multiply all the common prime factors together. In our example, 2 x 3 = 6. Therefore, the GCF of 12 and 18 is also 6.
Remember, the more you practice finding factors and prime factorization, the easier it will become to find the GCF of any given numbers. Good luck with your quiz!