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Prime Time

Numbers that share factors

Write the factors of 12 on one side of a page. Write the factors of 18 on the other side. Some numbers are in both lists.

Two circles: 12 and 18.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Two circles: 12 and 18.
  2. 12's own factors: 4, 12.
  3. 18's own factors: 9, 18.
  4. Shared by both: 1, 2, 3, 6.

The rule

A common factor divides both numbers. Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12. Factors of 18: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18. 12 and 18 share four: 1, 2, 3, 6.

Watch out!

Any two numbers share the factor 1. So 7 and 15 share 1, and nothing more.

Two numbers that share only the factor 1 are co-prime. 7 and 15 are co-prime.

Why this matters

Why care? Share 12 laddoos and 18 barfis on plates. Every plate must get the same. The number of plates must divide both. So 6 plates work. Each plate gets 2 laddoos and 3 barfis.

Set the lab to 12 and 18. Then try 7 and 15.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 What is a factor?
  3. 2 Counting up in steps
  4. 3 Primes: exactly two factors
  5. 4 Composites: more than two factors
  6. 5 Quick tests without dividing
  7. 6 Numbers that share factors
  8. 7 The big picture
  9. 8 Track quiz

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