Question

How do you find the GCF of 16, 56?

Answer 1

The GCF is `8`

Explanation:

Method 1 - Subtraction

One method of finding the GCF of two positive numbers goes as follows:

• If the two numbers are equal to the same value then that is the GCF.

• Otherwise subtract the smaller number from the larger and repeat.

So in our example:

Given: `16, 56`

• Subtract `16` from `56` to get: `16, 40`

• Subtract `16` from `40` to get: `16, 24`

• Subtract `16` from `24` to get: `16, 8`

• Subtract `8` from `16` to get: `8, 8`

So the GCF is `8`

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Method 2 - Division

Given two numbers, you can find their GCF as follows:

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

• If the remainder is `0` then the smaller number is the GCF.

• Otherwise repeat with the smaller number and the remainder.

So in our example:

`56 / 16 = 3" "` with remainder `8`

`16 / 8 = 2" "` with remainder `0`

So the GCF is `8`