What is GCF of 36 and 60?


Steps to find GCF of 36 and 60

Example: Find gcf of 36 and 60

  • Factors for 36: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36
  • Factors for 60: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60

Hence, GCf of 36 and 60 is 12

What is GCF of two numbers?

In mathematics GCF or also known as greatest common factor of two or more number is that one largest number which is a factor of those given numbers. It is represented as GCF (36, 60).

Properties of GCF

  • The GCF of two or more given numbers cannot be greater than any of the given number. Eg- GCF of 36 and 60 is 12, where 12 is less than both 36 and 60.
  • GCF of two consecutive numbers is always 1.
  • The product of GCF and LCM of two given numbers is equal to the product of two numbers.
  • The GCF of two given numbers where one of them is a prime number is either 1 or the number itself.

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. 36 and 60 are factors of themselves respectively.
  • 1 is a factor of every number. Eg. 1 is a factor of 36 and also of 60.
  • Every number is a factor of zero (0), since 36 x 0 = 0 and 60 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, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36 are exact divisors of 36 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60 are exact divisors of 60.
  • Factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36. Each factor divides 36 without leaving a remainder.
    Simlarly, factors of 60 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60. Each factor divides 60 without leaving a remainder.
  • Every factor of a number is less than or equal to the number, eg. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36 are all less than or equal to 36 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60 are all less than or equal to 60.

Steps to find Factors of 36 and 60

  • Step 1. Find all the numbers that would divide 36 and 60 without leaving any remainder. Starting with the number 1 upto 18 (half of 36) and 1 upto 30 (half of 60). The number 1 and the number itself are always factors of the given number.
    36 ÷ 1 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 1 : Remainder = 0
    36 ÷ 2 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 2 : Remainder = 0
    36 ÷ 3 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 3 : Remainder = 0
    36 ÷ 4 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 4 : Remainder = 0
    36 ÷ 6 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 5 : Remainder = 0
    36 ÷ 9 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 6 : Remainder = 0
    36 ÷ 12 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 10 : Remainder = 0
    36 ÷ 18 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 12 : Remainder = 0
    36 ÷ 36 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 15 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 20 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 30 : Remainder = 0
    60 ÷ 60 : Remainder = 0

Hence, Factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 36

And, Factors of 60 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 60

Examples of GCF

Sammy baked 36 chocolate cookies and 60 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 36 and 60.
GCF of 36 and 60 is 12.

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(36, 60) = ( 36 * 60 ) / LCM(36, 60) = 12.

What is the GCF of 36 and 60?

GCF of 36 and 60 is 12.

Ram has 36 cans of Pepsi and 60 cans of Coca Cola. He wants to create identical refreshment tables that will be organized in his house warming party. He also doesn't want to have any can left over. What is the greatest number of tables that Ram can arrange?

To find the greatest number of tables that Ram can stock we need to find the GCF of 36 and 60. Hence GCF of 36 and 60 is 12. So the number of tables that can be arranged is 12.

Rubel is creating individual servings of starters for her birthday party. He has 36 pizzas and 60 hamburgers. He wants each serving to be identical, with no left overs. Can you help Rubel in arranging the same in greatest possible way?

The greatest number of servings Rubel can create would be equal to the GCF of 36 and 60. Thus GCF of 36 and 60 is 12.

Ariel is making ready to eat meals to share with friends. She has 36 bottles of water and 60 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 36 and 60. So the GCF of 36 and 60 is 12.

Mary has 36 blue buttons and 60 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 36 and 60. Hence, the GCF of 36 and 60 or the greatest arrangement is 12.

Kamal is making identical balloon arrangements for a party. He has 36 maroon balloons, and 60 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 36 and 60. So the GCF of 36 and 60 is 12.