Given Numbers: 18, 24
Identify the Prime Factors of 18 and 24 by Prime Factorization
Identify the Prime Factors of 18 and 24 by Prime Factorization
- Prime Factorization of 18: 18 = 2 x 3 x 3 = 21 x 32
- Prime Factorization of 24: 24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 = 23 x 31
Determine the Prime Factor(s) that are common to the Prime Factorization of each number:
- 2 and 3 are Prime Factors common to the Prime Factorizations of 18 and 24
Determine the least number of occurrences of 2 and 3 among the Prime Factorizations:
- 2 occurs at least 1 time in each Prime Factorization
- 3 occurs at least 1 time in each Prime Factorization
As a result, the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of 18 and 24 is equal to 2 x 3, which equals the product of 2 and 3 raised to the powers of their least number of occurrences or smallest exponent among the Prime Factorizations:
- GCF(18, 24) = 21 x 31
- GCF(18, 24) = 2 x 3
- GCF(18, 24) = 6
Therefore, the Greatest Common Factor of 18 and 24 by Prime Factorization = 6