I think "smallest greatest" is my new favorite oxymoron. If the GCF of two numbers is 850, the smallest those two numbers could be is 850 and 850. If they need to be different, the smallest they could be is 850 and 1700.
The smallest of the two numbers could be 850.
45 and 45
the smaller number
45, 90 and 135
1700 and 2550
The smallest of the two numbers could be 850.
No, the greatest common factor is never greater than the smallest number. The greatest common factor is the largest integer that divides evenly into all of the numbers listed.
45 and 45
479 and 479
the smaller number
The greatest common factor is 13. Both 26 and 91 are divisible by 13. The greatest common factor cannot be larger than the smallest number, so the greatest common factor in this case is the smallest number - 13, since it is a factor of the other two numbers.
1700
45, 90 and 135
1700 and 2550