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They really aren't all that similar...

Greastest common factor finds the greatest number that you can divide both numbers by... for example, the GCF of 15 and 20 is 5, because 15 / 3 = 5 and 20 / 4 = 5, there is no higher number for division purposes that the two share. 10 is higher than 5 in the case of 20, but you cannot divide 15 by 10 without getting a remainder of 5.

Least common multiple finds the smallest common number that you can get when multiplying a number... for example, the LCM of 15 and 45 is 15 itself; 15 x 1 = 15, and 15 x 3 = 45. There is no smaller number that you can find that is common between the two. Another example, since the previous one had an LCM of an actual number being asked would be 18 and 24... in this case it would be 72 because there is no smaller number that the two share when multiplied by another value.

They are somewhat similar in how you find the end value, however. By dividing the two given numbers in the case of LCM, you will eventually break them up into prime numbers. Eliminating all similar numbers and then multiplying what is left will give you the LCM. In the case of GCF, by doing the same thing minus multiplying the prime numbers, you will end up finding the greatest number that the two are divisible by.

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14y ago
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10y ago

The greatest common factor, or GCF, is the largest positive integer that will divide evenly with no remainder into all the members of a given set of numbers. The least common multiple, or LCM, is the smallest positive integer that all the members of a given set of numbers will divide into evenly with no remainder. They are both common values of a given set of numbers.

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11y ago

A factor is a number by which another is exactly divisible. Every number has factors. Some numbers have the same factors as other numbers. Those are common factors. When comparing lists of common factors, the largest number is called the greatest common factor, or GCF.

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7y ago

The greatest common factor, or GCF, is the largest positive integer that will divide evenly with no remainder into all the members of a given set of numbers. The least common multiple, or LCM, is the smallest positive integer that all the members of a given set of numbers will divide into evenly with no remainder.

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Q: How is common factors and greatest common factors similar and different?
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What is the relationship between factorscommon factors and greatest common factors how are they similar an how are they different?

All integers have factors. Some integers have some of the same factors as other integers. These are known as common factors. The largest of these is known as the greatest common factor, or GCF.


How is the greatest common factor different from the least common factor?

In the list of common factors, the greatest is the largest, the least is the smallest (which is always 1)


What are the common factors and greatest common factors of 12 and 15?

The common factors are 1 and 3. The greatest of these is 3.


What are the common factors and greatest common factors of 16 and 80?

The common factors are: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16The Greatest Common Factor = 16


What ARE THE common factors and greatest common factors of 21 and 28?

The common factors are 1 and 7. The GCF is 7.

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What is the relationship between factorscommon factors and greatest common factors how are they similar an how are they different?

All integers have factors. Some integers have some of the same factors as other integers. These are known as common factors. The largest of these is known as the greatest common factor, or GCF.


How are factors common factors and greatest common factors similar?

they all are needed to find out the greatest common or just the common factors


What is the difference between common factors and greatest common factors?

The greatest common factor is the largest of the common factors.


How is the greatest common factor different from the least common factor?

In the list of common factors, the greatest is the largest, the least is the smallest (which is always 1)


What are the common factors and greatest common factors of 12 and 15?

The common factors are 1 and 3. The greatest of these is 3.


What is the greatest common factor of 36 60 and 108?

The factors of 36 are :1,2,3,6,9,12,18,36The factors of 60 are :1,2,3,5,6,10,12,15,20,30,60The factors of 108 are :1,2,3,4,6,9,12,.etc.each number has the many similar factors, but the highest factor (or GCF [greatest common factor]) is 12 Therefore the answer is 12.


What are the common factors and the greatest common factors for 15 and 40?

The common factors are: 1, 5 The Greatest Common Factor (GCF) is: 5


What are the greatest common factors of 990 and 1540?

What are the greatest common factors of 990 and 1540


What is the gteatest common factor for 24 and 72?

Similar factors for 24 and 72 are: 1,2,3,4,6,8,12,24 Greatest common factor then would be 24


What are the common factors and greatest common factor of 10 and 20?

1,2,5,10 are the common factors, and the Greatest Common Factor is 10.


What are the greatest common factors of 18 and26?

The common factors are: 1, 2 The Greatest Common Factor: 2


Do you have a list of greatest common factors?

the greatest common factors of what? The question makes no sense as it stands.