What is the greatest common factor of 2xy and 4x^2?

1 Answer
Mar 6, 2018

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Find the prime factors for each number as:

#2xy = 2 xx x xx y#

#4x^2 = 2 xx 2 xx x xx x#

Now identify the common factors and determine the GCF:

#2xy = color(red)(2) xx color(red)(x) xx y#

#4x^2 = color(red)(2) xx 2 xx color(red)(x) xx x#

Therefore:

#"GCF" = color(red)(2) xx color(red)(x) = 2x#