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GCF Foldable – 4 Methods

The GCF foldable and videos below show four methods that you can use to find the G.C.F. (greatest common factor).  See the steps and examples that I chose for the GCF foldable below.


Method 1:  Make a List

Steps:

1.  List all factors for both numbers.

2.  Identify all common factors.

3.  Select the biggest factor that both numbers share.

Examples:

A.        12 and 36
GCF Foldable
 B.        18 and 45
GCF Foldable

Method 2:  Prime Factorization

Steps:

1.  Find the prime factorization of both numbers.

2.  Compare the prime factorizations:  circle common prime factors.

3.  Multiply the common prime numbers.

Examples:

A.        30 and 16
GCF Foldable
 B.        75 and 90
GCF Foldable

Method 3:  Venn Diagram

Steps:

1.  Find the prime factorization of both numbers.

2.  Fill out the Venn diagram.  Put the common prime numbers in the middle first.

3.  Multiply the common prime numbers from the middle of the Venn diagram.

 Video:


Method 4:  Ladder (Upside Down Division)

Steps:

1. Divide both numbers by the smallest prime number possible.

2. Continue the process until one or both numbers (on the inside) cannot be simplified any further.

3.  Multiply the prime numbers that you divided by.  (The numbers on the left.)

Examples:

A.        40 and 32

GCF Foldable
 B.        75 and 90
GCF Foldable

Video:


Check out my GCF Foldable Here!

GCF Foldable

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