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What is the greatest common factor of 24 and 42?

Answer 1

Riley Anderson

Greatest common factor is 6

Break the numbers down into their prime number factors.

Some prime numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37 ....

Observe that the only prime numbers in both are 2 and 3.

So the product #2xx3=6# is a factor of both.

Since there is no other prime common to both #24# and #42#, we cannot increase the common factor of #6# by multiplying by another prime.

So, the highest/greatest common factor of #24# and #42# is #6#.

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Answer 2

Nova Allen

#6#

My favourite method for finding the greatest common factor (GCF) of two numbers goes as follows:

Divide the larger number by the smaller to give a quotient and remainder.

If the remainder is zero then the smaller number is the GCF.

Otherwise repeat with the smaller number and the remainder.

In our example we find:

#42/24 = 1# with remainder #18#

#24/18 = 1# with remainder #6#

#18/6 = 3# with remainder #0#

So the GCF is #6#

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Answer 3

Skylar Adams

The greatest common factor of 24 and 42 is 6.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.