What is the GCF of 48 and 84 and why?

Answer 1

The factors of 48 are:

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48

The factors of 84 are:

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12, 14, 21, 28, 42, 84

The common factors are:

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

The Greatest Common Factor:

GCF = 12

Answer 2

GCF(48, 84) = 12

48 = 12*4

84 = 12*7

So 12 is a common factor and

since 4 and 7 are coprime, there is no higher common factor.