Question

What are the common factors of 24 and 32?

Answer 1

`1, 2, 4, 8`

Explanation:

Let us find the greatest common factor (GCF) first.

To find the GCF of two numbers, proceed 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.

In our example:

`32 / 24 = 1" "` with remainder `8`

`24 / 8 = 3" "` with remainder `0`

So the GCF of `24` and `32` is `8`.

Any common factor of `24` and `32` will be a factor of the GCF `8`.

Hence the positive common factors of `24` and `32` are:

`1, 2, 4, 8`