What is the GCF of 16 and 24?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numbers 16 and 24. To solve this, we will identify the factors of both numbers and find the largest factor that they have in common.
Answer
$8$
Answer for screen readers
The greatest common factor (GCF) of 16 and 24 is $8$.
Steps to Solve
- List the factors of each number
Find all the factors of 16 and 24.
- Factors of 16: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16
- Factors of 24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24
- Identify the common factors
Compare the factors of 16 and 24 to find the ones they share.
- Common factors: 1, 2, 4, 8
- Determine the greatest common factor
Look at the common factors and identify the largest one.
- The greatest common factor (GCF) of 16 and 24 is 8.
The greatest common factor (GCF) of 16 and 24 is $8$.
More Information
The GCF is useful in various applications, such as simplifying fractions, finding common denominators, and solving problems involving ratios. Identifying the GCF helps in understanding the relationship between numbers.
Tips
- A common mistake is to just choose the smaller number as the GCF, which is incorrect. Always check for the actual common factors.
- Another mistake could be miscounting the factors of each number. It's important to list all factors carefully.