GCF of 30 and 54 and why
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of 30 and 54:
The GCF of 30 and 54 is 6.
Explanation
The Greatest Common Factor (GCF), also known as the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD), is the largest number that divides two or more integers exactly, without leaving a remainder. To find the GCF of 30 and 54, we can use two main methods: the listing method and the prime factorization method.
Method 1: Listing the Factors
First, list all the factors of each number.
- Factors of 30: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30
- Factors of 54: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18, 27, 54
Now, identify the common factors:
- Common factors: 1, 2, 3, 6
From this list, the greatest common factor is 6.
Method 2: Prime Factorization
Break each number into its prime factors:
- 30 = 2 × 3 × 5
- 54 = 2 × 3 × 3 × 3 (or 2×332 \times 3^3)
Now find the prime factors both numbers share.
- Common prime factors: 2 and 3
Multiply the lowest powers of common prime factors:
- 21×31=62^1 \times 3^1 = 6
So, the GCF is 6.
Why is this Important?
Understanding the GCF helps in simplifying fractions, solving ratio problems, and finding patterns in numbers. For example, if you want to divide 30 and 54 into equal groups without anything left over, the largest group size you can use is 6. This is because 6 is the largest number that evenly divides both 30 and 54. In real life, this concept is used in things like packaging, engineering, and organizing schedules.
In conclusion, using either method, we find that the GCF of 30 and 54 is 6. This result is verified by both the listing and prime factorization approaches.
