How can we define factors?
In mathematics a factor is a number which divides into another without leaving any remainder. Or we can say, any two numbers that multiply to give a product are both factors of that product. It can be both positive or negative.
Properties of Factors
- Each number is a factor of itself. Eg. 16 and 72 are factors of themselves respectively.
- 1 is a factor of every number. Eg. 1 is a factor of 16 and also of 72.
- Every number is a factor of zero (0), since 16 x 0 = 0 and 72 x 0 = 0.
- Every number other than 1 has at least two factors, namely the number itself and 1.
- Every factor of a number is an exact divisor of that number, example 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 are exact divisors of 16 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72 are exact divisors of 72.
- Factors of 16 are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16. Each factor divides 16 without leaving a remainder.
Simlarly, factors of 72 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72. Each factor divides 72 without leaving a remainder. - Every factor of a number is less than or equal to the number, eg. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 are all less than or equal to 16 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72 are all less than or equal to 72.
Steps to find Factors of 16 and 72
- Step 1. Find all the numbers that would divide 16 and 72 without leaving any remainder. Starting with the number 1 upto 8 (half of 16) and 1 upto 36 (half of 72). The number 1 and the number itself are always factors of the given number.
16 ÷ 1 : Remainder = 0
72 ÷ 1 : Remainder = 0
16 ÷ 2 : Remainder = 0
72 ÷ 2 : Remainder = 0
16 ÷ 4 : Remainder = 0
72 ÷ 3 : Remainder = 0
16 ÷ 8 : Remainder = 0
72 ÷ 4 : Remainder = 0
16 ÷ 16 : Remainder = 0
72 ÷ 6 : Remainder = 0
Hence, Factors of
16 are 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16
And, Factors of
72 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 72
Examples of GCF
Sammy baked 16 chocolate cookies and 72 fruit and nut cookies to package in plastic containers for her friends at college. She wants to divide the cookies into identical boxes so that each box has the same number of each kind of cookies. She wishes that each box should have greatest number of cookies possible, how many plastic boxes does she need?Since Sammy wants to pack greatest number of cookies possible. So for calculating total number of boxes required we need to calculate the GCF of 16 and 72.
GCF of 16 and 72 is 8.
A class has 16 boys and 72 girls. A choir teacher wants to form a choir team from this class such that the students are standing in equal rows also girls or boys will be in each row. Teacher wants to know the greatest number of students that could be in each row, can you help him?To find the greatest number of students that could be in each row, we need to find the GCF of 16 and 72. Hence, GCF of 16 and 72 is 8.
What is the difference between GCF and LCM?Major and simple difference betwen GCF and LCM is that GCF gives you the greatest common factor while LCM finds out the least common factor possible for the given numbers.
What is the relation between LCM and GCF (Greatest Common Factor)?GCF and LCM of two numbers can be related as GCF(16, 72) = ( 16 * 72 ) / LCM(16, 72) = 8.
What is the GCF of 16 and 72?GCF of 16 and 72 is 8.
Ariel is making ready to eat meals to share with friends. She has 16 bottles of water and 72 cans of food, which she would like to distribute equally, with no left overs. What is the greatest number of boxes Ariel can make?The greatest number of boxes Ariel can make would be equal to GCF of 16 and 72. So the GCF of 16 and 72 is 8.
Mary has 16 blue buttons and 72 white buttons. She wants to place them in identical groups without any buttons left, in the greatest way possible. Can you help Mary arranging them in groups?Greatest possible way in which Mary can arrange them in groups would be GCF of 16 and 72. Hence, the GCF of 16 and 72 or the greatest arrangement is 8.
Kamal is making identical balloon arrangements for a party. He has 16 maroon balloons, and 72 orange balloons. He wants each arrangement tohave the same number of each color. What is the greatest number of arrangements that he can make if every balloon is used?The greatest number of arrangements that he can make if every balloon is used would be equal to GCF of 16 and 72. So the GCF of 16 and 72 is 8.
Kunal is making baskets full of nuts and dried fruits. He has 16 bags of nuts and 72 bags of dried fruits. He wants each basket to be identical, containing the same combination of bags of nuts and bags of driesn fruits, with no left overs. What is the greatest number of baskets that Kunal can make?the greatest number of baskets that Kunal can make would be equal to GCF of 16 and 72. So the GCF of 16 and 72 is 8.