MATHEMATICS 5

Jay D. Bolano
Math Teacher
 Today, we will learn to find the common factors, GCF,
common multiples and LCM of 2–4 numbers using continuous division.
Solve real-life problems involving GCF and LCM of 2-3 given numbers.

LET’S START!!!

Let’s answer the drills

below. Divide and Multiply the
following numbers.
EXPLORE AND DISCOVER!!!

1. 20 x 4 =
2. 13 x 6 =
3. 8x9=
4. 12 x 5 =
5. 7x8=
6. 20 ÷ 4 =
7. 35 ÷ 7 =
8. 48 ÷ 6 =
9. 72 ÷ 8 =
10. 120 ÷ 2 =
 Suppose your mom has two rectangular cakes for a party, one vanilla and
one strawberry, both the same thickness. The vanilla flavored cake has an
area of 12 square inches, while the strawberry flavored cake has an area of
20 square inches. Your mom wants to divide both cakes into pieces such that
all pieces are of equal size and both cakes are evenly divided with no
leftover smaller pieces.
“No problem,” your mom says, “I’ll just cut
the cakes into 4-square-inch pieces. That
way, everyone will have a same-sized piece.”
 
How in the world did she know that?
Greatest Common Factor
Before we explore the cake situation, let’s remember
what factors are. Factors are numbers that, when multi-
plied, produce another number. Usually, we talk about factors
in pairs. 1 and 8 are factors of 8 because 1×8=8. 4 and 2
are also factors of 8, because 4×2=8.

2 x 1 = 2
2 x 2 = 4
2 x 3 = 6
2 x 4 = 8
2 x 5 = 10
 Numbers have a unique prime factorization. Recall
that prime numbers, like 2, 3, and 5, can only be divided by
themselves and 1. We can keep dividing the factors of any
number into its prime number components. So, any
number is composed of a unique set of prime numbers
multiplied together.
 Mathematically, your mom calculated the Greatest
Common Factor (GCF) between 12 and 20 to be 4.  In
other words, 4 is the largest factor that both numbers have
in common.  We can see it by looking at the prime fac-
torizations of both numbers:
 The blue numbers are the prime factors of both
numbers. To find the GCF, simply identify the prime
factors that both numbers have in common and
multiply them together.
FINDING GCF USING CONTINUOUS DIVISION
When finding the GCF of large numbers, it is easier to use the continuous
division method.

Step 1: Write the given numbers in a horizontal line, separating them by commas. 

Step 2: Divide them by a suitable prime number, which exactly divides at least two of the
given numbers.

Step 3: We put the quotient directly under the numbers in the next row. If the number is
not divided exactly, we bring it down in the next row.

Step 4: We continue the process of step 2 and step 3 until all co-prime numbers are left
in the last row.

Step 5: Multiply all the prime numbers in the left side. This product is the Greatest
Common Factor of the given numbers.
Example No. 1:
2. Find the GCF of 12 and 20 using continuous division.

÷    
2 12 20
2 6 10
3 5

3 and 5 have no common factors except 1, so we stop here.

GCF of 12 and 20 = 2 x 2 = 4
Example No. 2:
2. Find the GCF of 36 and 24 using continuous division.

÷    
2 36 24
2 18 12
3 9 6
  3 2
3 and 2 have no common factors except 1, so we stop here.
GCF of 36 and 24 = 2 x 2 x 3 = 12
Example No. 3:
3. Find the GCF of 20, 40 and 80 using continuous division.

÷    
10 20 40 80
2 2 4 8
1 2 4
 
1, 2 and 4 have no common factors except 1, so we stop
here.
GCF of 20,40 and 80 = 10 x 2 = 20
Example No. 4:
4. Find the GCF of 225, 300 and 900 using continuous division.

÷    
5 225 300 900
5 45 60 180
3 9 12 36
  3 4 12
3, 4 and 12 have no common factors except 1, so we stop
here.
GCF of 225,300 and 900 = 5 x 5 x 3 = 75
LET’S TRY!!!
Find the GCF of each pair of numbers.

Numbers GCF
1. 60 and 66  

2. 44 and 14  

3. 20 and 22  

4. 40, 60 and 80  

 5. 250, 350 and 450