What is the greatest common factor of 48?

Answer 1

There cannot be a greatest common factor (GCF) of just one number. To be common there need to be at least two numbers. If you find all the factors of two or more numbers, and you find some factors are the same ("common"), then the largest of those common factors is the Greatest Common Factor.

You need at least two numbers to find a GCF. If that's 4 and 8, the GCF is 4.

Answer 2

Greatest COMMON factors are normally defined for two or more numbers. For a single number, the GCF is itself. That is, the GCF of 48 is 48.

Answer 3

A single number cannot have a greatest common factor because "common" refers to factors that two or more numbers have in common. You have only one number.