GMAT Algebra
Core Concepts
Factors, Multiples,
GCF, and LCM
Mastering the Building Blocks of Numbers
What Are Factors and
Multiples?
• Factor: A number that divides another exactly
• Multiple: A number that is a product of a number and
an integer
• Example:
• Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
• Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, …
Prime Factorization – The Foundation
• Break numbers into prime factors
• Useful for finding GCF and LCM
• Method: Factor Tree
• Example:
• 36 → 2 × 18
• 36 → 2 × 2 × 9
• 36 → 2 × 2 × 3 × 3
Finding the GCF
• GCF = Product of common prime factors
• Example:
• 36 = 2² × 3²
• 60 = 2² × 3 × 5
• GCF = 2² × 3 = 12
Finding the LCM
• LCM = Product of all prime factors
(use highest powers)
• Example:
• 12 = 2² × 3
• 18 = 2 × 3²
LCM = 2² × 3² = 36
Activity – Factor Trees and Multiple
Tables
• Draw factor trees for: 36, 48, 60
• Fill first 10 multiples of: 4, 6, 8
• Find GCF of 36 & 60
• Find LCM of 12 & 18
Application – Word
Problem Example (LCM)
Question: Buses A and B leave a station together. A
returns every 12 minutes, B every 18. When will they
meet again?
Step: LCM(12, 18) = 36
Answer: Every 36 minutes
Common Class Breaks – GCF
Two classes have break times every 48 minutes and 60
minutes respectively. If both breaks coincide now, after how
many minutes will their breaks next coincide?
Solution:
GCF of 48 and 60
→ 48 = 2⁴ × 3
→ 60 = 2² × 3 × 5
→ GCF = 2² × 3 = 12 minutes
Answer: Their breaks will coincide every 12 minutes
Packing Candies – GCF
You have 84 chocolate candies and 108 caramel candies. You
want to pack them into identical boxes such that each box has
the same number of each type of candy and there are no
leftovers. What is the greatest number of boxes you can make?
Solution:
Find GCF of 84 and 108
→ 84 = 2² × 3 × 7
→ 108 = 2² × 3³
→ GCF = 2² × 3 = 12
Answer: 12 boxes
Bus Schedule – LCM
Bus A arrives at a station every 20 minutes. Bus B arrives
every 30 minutes. If both buses arrive at the station at
9:00 AM, when will they next arrive together?
Solution:
Find LCM of 20 and 30
→ 20 = 2² × 5
→ 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
→ LCM = 2² × 3 × 5 = 60 minutes
Answer: They will arrive together again at 10:00 AM
Class Timings – LCM
A math class is held every 3 days and a science class is held
every 4 days. If both classes are held today, after how many
days will both classes occur again on the same day?
Solution:
Find LCM of 3 and 4→
LCM = 12
Answer: In 12 days, both classes will occur again on the
same day
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Confusing GCF and LCM
• Not using prime factorization
• Forgetting to use highest powers for LCM
• Assuming GCF is always smaller than both numbers
(it’s not if numbers are equal)
Homework Assignment
• Three traffic lights blink at intervals of 15, 18, and 30 seconds
respectively. If they all blink together at [Link] AM, when is the
next time they will blink together?
• An alarm rings every 24 minutes, a bell rings every 36 minutes, and
a buzzer rings every 48 minutes. If they all ring together at 12:00
PM, at what time will they ring together again?
• Two teams play matches every 36 days and 60 days respectively. If
they both played a match today, after how many days will they play
on the same day again?
• A rectangular floor measuring 90 cm by 144 cm is to be tiled using
the largest possible square tiles of equal size, with no cutting. What
is the side length of each tile?
Introduction to Absolute Value
What is Absolute Value?
• The absolute value of a number is its distance from 0 on the
number line.
• It is always non-negative.
• Notation: |x|
Examples:
• |5| = 5
• |–5| = 5
• |0| = 0
Properties of Absolute Value
Properties You Should Know
• |x| ≥ 0 for all real x
• |–x| = |x|
• |a – b| = distance between a and b
• |x| = a ⟺ x = a or x = –a
Solving Equations with
Absolute Value
Solving |x – 3| = 7
Step 1: Set up two equations
• x–3=7
• x – 3 = –7
Step 2: Solve both
• x = 10
• x = –4
Solving Inequalities with Absolute Value
Solving |2x + 1| < 5
Step 1: Convert to compound inequality
–5 < 2x + 1 < 5
Step 2: Solve–6 < 2x < 4
→ divide all by 2
–3 < x < 2
Interpreting |x – a| < b
Understanding the Range
|x – a| < b ⟺ x lies within b units from a
Example:
|x – 4| < 2 ⟺ x is between 2 and 6
Practice – Solve These Equations
Try Solving These (Equation-Based)
1. |x + 4| = 9
2. |2x – 5| = 3
3. |x| = 0
4. |3x + 2| = 11
5. |x – 7| = 4
Practice – Solve These Inequalities
Try These (Inequality-Based)
1. |x – 2| < 3
2. |2x + 1| ≤ 5
3. |x| > 6
4. |3x – 4| ≥ 2
5. |x + 3| > 7
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Forgetting the second solution (±)
• Not flipping inequality sign when multiplying/dividing by
negative
• Confusing < and > directions
Quick Recap – Factors, Multiples, GCF & LCM
• Factors = Numbers that divide exactly (e.g., factors of 12 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6,
12)
• Multiples = Numbers in the times table (e.g., multiples of 4 = 4, 8, 12, …)
• Prime Factorization = Break a number into its prime building blocks
(use factor trees)
• GCF (Greatest Common Factor) = Shared prime factors with lowest
powers
→ Used to split things into equal groups, find maximum size, or shared
schedules
• LCM (Least Common Multiple) = All prime factors with highest powers
• → Used to find when events line up again (buses, classes, alarms)
• Mistake to Avoid: Don’t confuse GCF (dividing) with LCM (aligning)
Quick Recap – Absolute Value &
Number Line
• |x| means distance from 0 → always positive or zero
• Equation |x| = a → Two solutions: x = a or x = –a
• Inequality |x| < a → x is between –a and a
• Inequality |x| > a → x is less than –a or greater than a
Remember:
✔ Split into two cases
✔ Solve carefully
✔ Visualize on number line
