Question

What does it mean for a number to be a common factor of two numbers?

Short answer

Common factors are defined as factors that are common to two or more numbers.

Step-by-step solution

Step -1 – Definition of a common factor

A common factor is a number that can be divided into two different number, without leaving a remainder.

Step -2 – Explanation of the common factor of two numbers.

Since, numbers can share more than one common factor.

It is possible to find the common factors of more than two numbers.

Now, a factor of a number is an exact divisor of the given number. Every factor of a number is less than or equal to the given number that is it cannot be greater than the given number. For example, $1,2,3,6$ are the factors of $6$.

So, to find the common factors of two numbers, first list out all the factors of two numbers separately and then compare them. Now write the factors which are common to both the numbers. These factors are called common factors of given two numbers.