What is the greatest common factor of 12 and 18?

To determine the greatest common factor (GCF) of 12 and 18, we start by identifying the factors of each number.

The factors of 12 are:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

The factors of 18 are:

• 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18

Next, we find the common factors between the two lists. The common factors of 12 and 18 are:

• 1, 2, 3, 6

Among these common factors, the largest one is 6. Therefore, the greatest common factor of 12 and 18 is indeed 6.

Identifying the GCF is crucial in computations involving fractions and can help simplify expressions. In this case, 6 is the largest number that evenly divides both 12 and 18, confirming it as the GCF. This understanding is fundamental in number theory and supports various applications, such as simplifying ratios and fractional expressions.