How do you find the greatest common factor of a positive and negative number?

Answer 1

Well, to get a negative number, when multiplying, you must have a negative and a posative. Therefore their would be one negative and posative solution, which would allow you to find a GCF for both a posative and negative number. Here's and example: Find the GCF of 4, and -12

You would factor each of them : you would have

4: 2,2 1,4

-12: 6,-2 2,-6 12,-1 .12,1 3,-4 4,-3

You would then determine that using that data, 4 would be the greatest common facotr of those two numbers.

Answer 2

To find the greatest common factor (GCF) of a positive and negative number, you first find the GCF of the absolute values of the numbers. Then, you consider the signs of the numbers to determine the final sign of the GCF. If one number is negative, the GCF will be negative; if both numbers are negative, the GCF will be positive. For example, the GCF of -12 and 18 is 6, while the GCF of -15 and -25 is 5.

Answer 3

Oh, dude, finding the greatest common factor of a positive and negative number is like finding your keys in the dark - annoying but necessary. Just ignore the negative sign for a sec and focus on the positive values. Then find the factors of both numbers and pick the largest one they have in common. Voilà, you've got your greatest common factor!

Answer 4

Alright, listen up buttercup. To find the greatest common factor of a positive and negative number, you first find the factors of each number. Then, you identify the common factors and choose the greatest one. Don't be afraid of those negative signs, they won't bite... hard. So, put on your big kid pants and get to work!