Given Numbers: 12, 20
Identify the Prime Factors of 12 and 20 by Prime Factorization
Identify the Prime Factors of 12 and 20 by Prime Factorization
- Prime Factorization of 12: 12 = 2 x 2 x 3 = 22 x 31
- Prime Factorization of 20: 20 = 2 x 2 x 5 = 22 x 51
Determine the Prime Factor(s) that are common to the Prime Factorization of each number:
- 2 is the only Prime Factor common to the Prime Factorizations of 12 and 20
Determine the least number of occurrences of 2 among the Prime Factorizations:
- 2 occurs 2 times in each Prime Factorization
As a result, the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of 12 and 20 is equal to 2 x 2, which equals 2 raised to the power of its least number of occurrences or smallest exponent among the Prime Factorizations:
- GCF(12, 20) = 22 = 2 x 2
- GCF(12, 20) = 4
Therefore, the Greatest Common Factor of 12 and 20 by Prime Factorization = 4