Question
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Answer
The greatest common factor is
.
Solution
To find the greatest common factor (GCF) of
and
, we will follow these steps:
- Identify the coefficients: The coefficients are 12 and 6.
- Identify the variables: The variables in
are , and in are .
Now, let’s find the GCF of the coefficients and the common variables:
- The GCF of 12 and 6 is 6.
- The common variable between
and is .
Thus, the GCF of
and
is
.
Final answer: The greatest common factor is
.
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The Deep Dive
To find the greatest common factor (GCF) of
and
, we first identify the numerical coefficients and the variable components in both expressions. The coefficients are 12 and 6, and the GCF of 12 and 6 is 6.
Next, for the variable parts, both have the variable
, so we include that in the GCF as well. The term
has additional variables
and
, but since
does not have these variables, they are not part of the GCF.
Therefore, the GCF of
and
is:
Looking for more insight? The concept of the greatest common factor can be related back to early mathematical practices where ancient civilizations, like the Greeks, developed the idea of divisibility for efficiency in trade and geometry. Who knew math had such a rich history?
To apply this knowledge, think of the GCF in real-world scenarios such as simplifying recipes—if you’re cooking for a crowd and need to adjust ingredient amounts, finding the GCF of measurements can help keep your ratios consistent!