what is the greatest common factor of 12x and 36? im confused, would it be 12 or 12x?
PLEASE someone answer this question!!!!!
the greatest common factor of 12x and 36 is 12
It is that number which divides exactly into both numbers.
12 divides into 12x x times, and into 36 3 times.
12x divides into 12x once but does not divide evenly into 36
You are confusing it with the lowest common multiple (usually needed for the lowest common denominator in fractions)
that would have been 36x, that is, the number into which both of your given numbers divided exactly.
To find the greatest common factor (GCF) of 12x and 36, we need to determine the largest number or expression that divides both 12x and 36 evenly.
First, let's look at the numbers. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12, while the factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 36. The common factors of 12 and 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.
Now let's consider the variable x. Both 12x and 36 have the factor x, so x is also a common factor.
To find the GCF, we take the highest common factor of both the numbers and the variables. In this case, the GCF of 12x and 36 is 12, since it is the highest common factor of both the number 12 and the variable x.
Therefore, the GCF of 12x and 36 is 12.