Common Factors

Common factors of two or more numbers are a number which divides each of the given numbers exactly.

Let us find all the factors of number 24 and 36

Factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24

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

The common factors of above are shown below.

Common Factors of 24 and 36




1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 are common factors of 24 and 36.

The factors common to two or more numbers are known as common factors, in the example given above, 12 is the highest common factor of 24 and 36.


For examples

1. Find the common factor of 6 and 8.

Factor of 6 = 1, 2, 3 and 6.

Factor of 8 = 1, 2, 4 and 8.

Therefore, common factors of 6 and 8 = 1 and 2.

[It can easily be shown that each common factor (1 and 2) divides the given numbers 6 and 8 exactly].


2. Find the common factor of 8 and 12.

Factor of 8 = 1, 2, 4 and 8.

Factor of 12 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12.

Therefore, common factors of 8 and 12 = 1, 2 and 4.


3. Find the common factor of 10 and 15.


Factor of 10 = 1, 2, 5 and 10.

Factor of 15 = 1, 3, 5 and 15.

Therefore, common factors of 10 and 15 = 1 and 5.


4. Find the common factor of 14 and 21.

Factor of 14 = 1, 2, 7 and 14.

Factor of 21 = 1, 3, 7 and 21.

Therefore, common factors of 14 and 21 = 1 and 7.

● Factors.

 Common Factors.

 Prime Factor.

● Repeated Prime Factors.

● Highest Common Factor (H.C.F).

● Examples on Highest Common Factor (H.C.F).

 Greatest Common Factor (G.C.F).

 Examples of Greatest Common Factor (G.C.F).

 Prime Factorisation.

 To find Highest Common Factor by using Prime Factorization Method.

 Examples to find Highest Common Factor by using Prime Factorization Method.

 To find Highest Common Factor by using Division Method.

 Examples to find Highest Common Factor of two numbers by using Division Method.

 To find the Highest Common Factor of three numbers by using Division Method.








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