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Greatest Common Factor


Mike McGarry
Lesson by Mike McGarry
Magoosh Expert

Summary
The content provides an in-depth exploration of the concept of the greatest common factor (GCF), detailing methods to calculate it for pairs of integers, with a focus on using prime factorization for larger numbers.
  • GCF, also known as the greatest common divisor, is a fundamental mathematical concept used to identify the largest factor common to two integers.
  • The traditional method of listing all factors to find the GCF is impractical for large numbers, necessitating the use of prime factorization.
  • Prime factorization involves breaking down each number into its prime factors and identifying the highest power of common primes to calculate the GCF.
  • Examples provided illustrate how to apply prime factorization to find the GCF of large numbers efficiently.
  • The significance of finding the GCF extends beyond the calculation itself, as it is pivotal in determining the least common multiple (LCM), which is discussed in subsequent content.
Chapters
00:01
Introduction to Greatest Common Factor
01:40
Calculating GCF with Prime Factorization
03:41
Practical Application of GCF
05:36
Significance of GCF in Finding LCM