Asked in Math and ArithmeticFactoring and Multiples
Math and Arithmetic
Factoring and Multiples
What is the greatest common factor of 8 an 12?
Answer

Wiki User
October 01, 2009 4:41PM
4
Look at the prime decompositions of each
8 = 2*2*2
12 = 2*2*3
Now look at all the terms in common.
They both have at least two 2's.
They share a factor of 4.
What is left after removing 4?
8/4 = 2
12/4 = 3
There is nothing left in common now.
So the greatest common factor is 4.