What is the greatest common factor of 60 72 and 36?

Answer 1

The GCF of 36, 60, and 72 is 12.

One way to approach this is to look at the differences between the numbers. The greatest common factor of two or more numbers cannot be larger than the smallest difference between the numbers and must be a factor of that difference. The difference between 36 and 60 is 24. The difference between 60 and 72 is 12. The smallest difference is 12, so check whether the three original numbers are divisible by 12. Since 36, 60, and 72 are all divisible by 12, the greatest common factor is 12.

Another way to determine the greatest common factor is to find all the factors of the numbers and compare them.

The factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 36.

The factors of 60 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 60.

The factors of 72 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 72.

The common factors are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. Therefore, the greatest common factor is 12.

NOTE: Since 36 is a factor of 72, the greatest common factor of 36, 60, and 72 is the same as the greatest common factor of 36 and 60.

The greatest common factor can also be calculated by identifying the common prime factors and multiplying them together.

The prime factors of 36 are 2, 2, 3, and 3, also written as 22 and 32.

The prime factors of 60 are 2, 2, 3, and 5, also written as 22, 3, and 5.

The prime factors of 72 are 2, 2, 2, 3, and 3, also written as 23 and 32.

The prime factors in common are 2, 2, and 3, so the greatest common factor is 2 x 2 x 3 = 12.

Answer 2

The greatest common factor (GCF) refers to a factor that is COMMON to two or more numbers. You have only one number in the question! The greatest factor of any number is itself.

Answer 3

GCF(60, 72, 36) = 12

Answer 4

The GCF is 12.

Answer 5

GCF(6072, 36) = 12.

Answer 6

78

Answer 7

4