What is the GCF of 40 and 56?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numbers 40 and 56. To find this, we can list the factors of each number and identify the largest factor that they share.
Answer
$8$
Answer for screen readers
The greatest common factor (GCF) of 40 and 56 is $8$.
Steps to Solve
- List the Factors of 40
Start by identifying all the factors of 40. Factors are the numbers that divide 40 evenly without a remainder.
The factors of 40 are: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 40.
- List the Factors of 56
Next, identify all the factors of 56 in the same way.
The factors of 56 are: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 28, 56.
- Identify Common Factors
Now, we will find the factors that are common to both lists.
The common factors are: 1, 2, 4, 8.
- Find the Greatest Common Factor
The greatest common factor is the largest number found in the list of common factors.
So, the greatest common factor of 40 and 56 is 8.
The greatest common factor (GCF) of 40 and 56 is $8$.
More Information
The GCF is useful in simplifying fractions and finding common denominators. In this case, knowing that both 40 and 56 can be divided evenly by 8 can simplify calculations involving these numbers.
Tips
- Not listing all factors correctly. Ensure to check for all potential factors up to the number itself.
- Confusing greatest common factor with least common multiple (LCM). Remember that GCF is about finding the largest common factor.
