Is greatest common factors part of problem solving strategies?

Answer 1

This sounds like a variation of the "Why do we hafta know this?" discussion that has been going on between students and teachers for as long as there have been students and teachers. The short answer, as you already suspected, is that finding the greatest common factor of a given set of numbers won't have any effect on the global war on terror, racial discrimination or world hunger. But recent history has not demonstrated that world problems are solvable and the likelihood is strong that neither you nor I will be solving them even if such a thing is possible. It's a specious argument at best. There are a great many things in this world that will not solve real world problems.

Closer to home, then. Finding the GCF will not assist in meal preparation, bed making or getting those really tough stains out of the laundry. Finding the GCF will not decode any of the mysteries of the opposite sex, unless you find a partner who will find a GCF for you.

What it will do is give you some practice in the relationships and manipulation of numbers, which is a valuable skill. It will help in the reduction of fractions for which, if you have not yet encountered them, you will be grateful for the assistance. On a purely practical note, it will help you to pass this class, which will improve your GPA, which will get you into a better college, which will increase your earning potential, which will help in attracting a suitable mate, which will make your life easier. And that, is your real world.

Answer 2

Define "real-world problems." Finding a greatest common factor won't do anything about global famine, world hunger or whatever relationship troubles you may find yourself in in the future. If, on the other hand, you find yourself needing to simplify a fraction, you will be well equipped to do so.

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

The most frequent use of GCF is in reducing fractions. If you divide the numerator and the denominator by the GCF the result is called reduced.

Answer 5

Reducing fractions

Answer 6

Yes.