Topic #3: GCF and LCM What is the difference between a factor and a multiple? List all of the factors and the first 3 multiples of 6.
Example: Find the GCF of 6 and 21. The GCF is 3. Example: Find the LCM of 6 and 21. The LCM is 42.
When looking for the GCF of terms with variables, choose the smallest power of each variable. Example: Find the GCF of x5 and x3. The GCF is x3.
When looking for the LCM of terms with variables, choose the largest power of each variable. Example: Find the LCM of x5 and x3. The LCM is x5.
Find the GCF and LCM 6x and 3 GCF = 3 LCM = 6x
Find the GCF and LCM 12x and 15xy GCF = 3x LCM = 60xy
Find the GCF and LCM 10x2y and 15xy2 GCF = 5xy LCM = 30x2y2
How will you remember the difference between a GCF and an LCM?
Find the GCF and LCM 2 and 6 GCF = 2 LCM = 6 3 and 4 GCF = 1 LCM = 12
Find the GCF of 3xy3 and 15x4y2. Find the LCM of 3xy3 and 15x4y2.
GCF and LCM Greatest Common Factor (GCF) – the GCF of two numbers is the biggest factor they have in common. In other words, the biggest number that divides evenly into both numbers. Example: Find the GCF of 6 and 21. Factors of 6: 1, 2, 3, 6 Factors of 21: 1, 3, 7, 21 GCF is 3.
GCF and LCM Least Common Multiple (LCM) – the smallest multiple that two or more numbers have in common. Example: Find the LCM of 6 and 21. Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48… Multiples of 21: 21, 42, 63… LCM is 42.