Finding GCF

We've been working on finding factors in math these days.  Using our knowledge of multiplication facts, finding factors can be quite easy.  A factor is a number that when multiplied with another equal a desired or chosen number.  For examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 ,and 12 are factors of 12 (1x12 = 12, 2x6 = 12, 3x4=12 --> any numbers that when multiplied together equal 12).

Once we found factors, we could start finding GCF or the greatest common factor.  To do this we first find the factors of 2 or more numbers.  Then we compare the factors of each.  The greatest factor that is similar in both numbers is called our GCF.

When doing this today. in partners students had to find the factors for a given number (two numbers were given with some students finding the factors for one and other students the factors of the other).  Then in groups of four we compared our factors (each partnership had a different number to find factors for) and then looked for the GCF.

This was a great way to continue working on finding factors while learning how to find the GCF between two numbers.

(ie. factors for 16 are 1, 2, 8, 16 and factors for 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24.  The GCF for 16 and 24 is 8 - the biggest factor or number that multiplies into 16 and 24).