What is the greatest common factor of 5 and 25?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking us to find the greatest common factor (GCF) of the numbers 5 and 25, which involves identifying the largest number that divides both evenly.
Answer
The GCF of 5 and 25 is $5$.
Answer for screen readers
The greatest common factor (GCF) of 5 and 25 is $5$.
Steps to Solve
- List the Factors of Each Number
First, we will find the factors of both numbers.
- The factors of 5 are: 1, 5
- The factors of 25 are: 1, 5, 25
- Identify Common Factors
Next, we will identify the factors that are common between both lists.
- Common factors between 5 and 25: 1, 5
- Find the Greatest Common Factor
Finally, we select the largest factor from the common factors identified.
- The greatest common factor of 5 and 25 is 5.
The greatest common factor (GCF) of 5 and 25 is $5$.
More Information
The GCF is useful in various mathematical problems, such as simplifying fractions and solving problems involving divisibility. In this case, since 25 is a multiple of 5, it makes sense that 5 is their GCF.
Tips
One common mistake is to assume that the GCF is always the smaller number. This is incorrect; the GCF must be a factor of both numbers, regardless of their size. To avoid such mistakes, it's essential to list all factors carefully and compare them.
