Common factors | Year 6 Mathematics PDF Download

Understanding Common Factors

• Definition of Factors: Factors are numbers that divide exactly into a given number. They represent the multiplication "facts" of that number.
• What are Common Factors: Common factors are those factors that are shared by two or more numbers.
• Example of Common Factor: For instance, the number 1 is a common factor for every single number because every number is divisible by 1.

Using an Ordered Method

To determine common factors without utilizing arrays, a systematic approach can be employed, known as an ordered method.

Examples

Example: 1
Let's consider an example scenario involving Bob the Baker who has prepared 9 doughnuts and 15 custard tarts and aims to distribute them equally into boxes. Each box can accommodate an equal number of doughnuts and custard tarts.

This problem necessitates identifying the common factor between 9 and 15.
Let's list down all factors of 9 and 15 and identify the factor they have in common:
Factors of 9: 1, 3, 9
Factors of 15: 1, 3, 5, 15
3 emerges as the common factor.
Thus, each box belonging to Bob the Baker can hold 3 doughnuts or 3 custard tarts.

Example: 2
Factors are numbers that can be multiplied together to get a specific number. Common factors are those that two or more numbers share.
Let's take an example to understand common factors: 16 and 48.

• Factors of 16: 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16.
• Factors of 48: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16.
• Common factors of 16 and 48 are 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16.

Understanding Prime Factors

• A prime factor is a factor that is also a prime number, meaning it is divisible only by 1 and itself.
• Remember, 1 is not considered a prime number because it has only one factor.
• Prime factors play a crucial role in various mathematical concepts like prime factorization and finding the greatest common divisor.

Example: Common Prime Factors of 42 and 56
When finding the common prime factors between two numbers, such as 42 and 56, it's essential to first determine all factors of each number.

• Factors of 42: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21
• Factors of 56: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 28
• By comparing the factors of 42 and 56, we can identify the common factors: 1, 2, 7, 14

However, not all common factors are prime numbers. Prime numbers are those that have only two factors: 1 and the number itself.
Prime Factors:

• 2 (as it has only factors 1 and 2)
• 7 (as it has only factors 1 and 7)

Therefore, the common prime factors of 42 and 56 are 2 and 7.