How do you find the greatest common factor of $36xy^3, 24y^2$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-11T14:16:53

$12y^2$

$color(blue)("Consider the variables "x" and "y)$

$x$ is only in one of them so it is not 'common'. Thus it is not included in the GCF

$y^2xxy=y^3$ so $color(green)(y^2" is part of the GCF")$

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$color(blue)("Consider the coefficients 36 and 24")$

Using prime factors: If you have any doubts at all sketch a factor tree.
Tony B

From this observe that the 'common' prime factors are

$color(green)(2xx2xx3 =12" is part of the GCF")$
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$color(blue)("Putting it all together")$

GCF $-> 12y^2$

How do you find the greatest common factor of 36xy^3, 24y^236xy^3, 24y^2?