Finding the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of 12 and 18 may seem like a daunting task to some, but it is actually quite simple. The GCF is the largest number that divides evenly into both 12 and 18.
To find the GCF, we start by listing the factors of each number. The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. The factors of 18 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 18.
We then look for the largest number that appears in both lists. In this case, that number is 6. Therefore, the GCF of 12 and 18 is 6.
It is worth noting that there are other methods to find the GCF, such as using prime factorization. However, for smaller numbers like 12 and 18, listing and comparing factors is a quick and efficient method.
In summary, finding the GCF of 12 and 18 involves listing the factors of each number and identifying the largest factor that appears in both lists. In this case, the GCF is 6.