What is the grewatest common factor of 58 and 48?

Answer 1

To find the greatest common factor of any two numbers, for example 58 and 48, I begin by finding all the FACTORS of each number.

I start by trying prime numbers like 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11.

58 = 2 x 29 48 = 2 x 24

I continue factoring until all factors are prime

58 = 2 x 29 (both 2 and 29 are prime) 48 = 2 x 2 x 12

58 = 2 x 29 48 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 6

58 = 2 x 29 48 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 (ALL prime!)

Next I look for factors that are COMMON to both factor lists. I see that 2 is the only factor on both lists, so 2 is the greatest common factor of 58 and 48