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Let's look at two prime factorizations:
2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 5 and
2 x 3 x 5
The GCF will be the product of the common factors. If I choose the larger powers from the first number, that won't be a factor of the second number. I can't select two twos, because the second number only has one two.

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Q: Why you need to use the smallest power of each common prime factor when finding the gcf of two or more integers?
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The smallest common factor of 16 and 24?

There is no such thing as the smallest common factor. I guess the smallest common factor (integers only) for 16 and 24 would be -8. But that's just the negative version of the greatest common factor. I think you meant to ask either what is the smallest common multiple of 16 and 24 or what is the greatest common factor of 16 and 24. The greatest common factor of 16 and 24 is 8. The smallest common multiple of 16 and 24 is 48.


What is the least common factor of 34 and 56?

The least common factor is a term often mistakenly given to either the greatest common factor (GCF) or the least common multiple (LCM). This term is not often used because it does not describe a useful relationship between numbers. Since 1 evenly divides all integers, 1 is technically the least common factor for any set of integers.The smallest non-one common factor of 42 and 36 is 2.


If your finding the Greatest Common Factor of 2 given numbers and the smallest number is a factor of a larger number then what must the Greatest Common Factor be?

the smaller number


What is the lowest common factor of 5 and 11?

There cannot be a least common factor 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 smallest of those common factors is the Least Common Factor.


What is the lowest common factor of 7 12 and 14?

The least common factor of any set of positive integers is 1.

Related questions

What is the smallest common factor of 26an 36?

The smallest common factor of any set of positive integers is 1.


What is the smallest common factor between 41 and 27?

The smallest common factor of any set of positive integers is 1.


What are the smallest Common factor of 850?

The least common factor of any set of integers is 1.


What is the Smallest common factor of 133 and 217?

The least common factor of any set of integers is 1.


The smallest common factor of 16 and 24?

There is no such thing as the smallest common factor. I guess the smallest common factor (integers only) for 16 and 24 would be -8. But that's just the negative version of the greatest common factor. I think you meant to ask either what is the smallest common multiple of 16 and 24 or what is the greatest common factor of 16 and 24. The greatest common factor of 16 and 24 is 8. The smallest common multiple of 16 and 24 is 48.


Why is 1 the least common integer?

1 is the least common factor of any set of positive integers because 1 is a factor of all nonzero integers and 1 is the smallest positive integer.


What is the least common factor for 15 12 18?

The least common factor of any set of numbers is 1.


Is the lowest common factor of any two positive integers always 1?

This statement is true because 1 is a factor of any 2 positive integers and so is always a common factor and since it is the smallest or lowest positive integer, it is always the lowest common factor.


When finding the greatest common factor of a polynomial can it ever be larger than the smallest coefficient?

Yes, the greatest common factor is less than or equal to the smallest coefficient. For example, the greatest common factor of 38 and 8 is 2.


What is does the least common factor of a group of numbers mean?

All numbers have factors. Some numbers have some of the same factors as other numbers. These are known as common factors. The smallest of these is known as the least common factor. Since 1 is a common factor of every set of integers, the least common factor of any set of integers is 1.


If your finding the Greatest Common Factor of 2 given numbers and the smallest number is a factor of a larger number then what must the Greatest Common Factor be?

the smaller number


What is the least common factor of 34 and 56?

The least common factor is a term often mistakenly given to either the greatest common factor (GCF) or the least common multiple (LCM). This term is not often used because it does not describe a useful relationship between numbers. Since 1 evenly divides all integers, 1 is technically the least common factor for any set of integers.The smallest non-one common factor of 42 and 36 is 2.