Earlier, students have learned to find all the possible factors of a given number.
To find the greatest common factor of two numbers, the first step is to find all the possible factors of each number.
Once these factors have been identified, the greatest common factor can be determined. It’s the largest factor that is a factor of both numbers.
Earlier, students have learned what a multiple of a number is. In this lesson, they learn how to find the least common multiple for two numbers.
The first step is to find a set of multiples for each of the two numbers. This set is generated by multiplying each number by 2, then 3, then 4, and so on.
When the two sets of multiples are identified, the least common multiple can be determined. It’s the smallest number that occurs in the list of multiples for the two numbers.