A factor is a number that divides into another number exactly. A common factor is a number that two numbers can both divide into exactly. The highest common factor is the largest number that divide into two numbers exactly.
Part ofMathsMultiples, factors and primes
Look at the factors of the following two numbers:
\({1}\), \({2}\), \({3}\) and \({6}\) are factors of both \({12}\) and \({18}\).
They are known as the common factors of \({12}\) and \({18}\).
What are the common factors of \(30\) and \(36\)?
The factors of \(30\) are \(1\), \(2\), \(3\), \(5\), \(6\), \(10\), \(15\), \(30\).
The factors of \(36\) are \(1\), \(2\), \(3\), \(4\), \(6\), \(9\), \(12\), \(18\), \(36\),
The common factors are \(1\), \(2\), \(3\) and \(6\).
