Lesson

1 Finding GCF and LCM

What’s In

A prime number is a whole number greater than 1 with only two factors, 1 and itself. For
example, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13 are the first few prime numbers in the set of whole numbers. Why?
Because 2 has only two factors which are 1 and 2. This is also true with 3 which also has two
factors only, 1 and 3, and so as the other given prime numbers.

On the other hand, a composite number is a whole number greater than 1 with more than
two factors. For example, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10 are some of the composite numbers in the set of whole
numbers. Why? Because 4 has three factors (1, 2, and 4), while 6 has four factors (1, 2, 3 and 6).
You will notice that 8, 9 and 10 each has more than two factors also.

Factors are numbers you multiply together to get another number:

In 2 x 3 = 6, 2 and 3 are the factors of 6. Likewise, 2 and 3 are prime numbers. Hence, we
can call 2 and 3 as prime factors of 6.

Example: Express 120 as a product of prime factors. Solution: 120 = 2 x

60 2 120
= 2 x 2 x 30 2 60
= 2 x 2 x 2 x 15 2 30
=2x2x2x3x5 3 15
5

Doing the above method is what we call prime factorization. Therefore, the

prime factorization of 120 is 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5.

The prime factorization of a number is the product of prime factors that makes up that number.

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ACTIVITY: FACTOR ME OUT

Directions: Find the prime factorization of each number. Take your time and enjoy!

1) 128 4) 148 7) 340 10) 4 200

2) 2 200 5) 320 8) 999
3) 2 250 6) 175 9) 1 620

Remember:

Steps in finding the GCF using continuous division:

1. Write the numbers horizontally and find a prime number that will divide all the
numbers, if possible.
2. Divide by that prime number and write the quotients below the dividends.
3. Continue the process until none of the numbers has a common prime divisor.

Note that: The GCF is the product of all the prime factors common to all the
numbers given.

Consider these problems.

Problem 1:

We want to know what is the largest possible length of each strip that Mary can cut
from the three pieces of ribbons? (Please refer to problem in What’s New.)

Solution:

2 16, 24, 40 Step 1

Divisors 2 8, 12, 20 Step 2
(Prime numbers) 2 4, 6, 10 Step 3
2 3 5

So, the common factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 (Step 4). The greatest common factor is 8.

Therefore, the longest possible length of each strip is 8 cm.

Problem 2:

Grand Tours van route A arrives at its stop every 8 minutes. Van route B arrives
at its stop across the terminal every 16 minutes. And van route C arrives at the gas station
stop every 24 minutes. If all three vans are currently arriving at their stops, how many hours
will pass before all three vans arrive at the same time?

Solution:

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 In relation to the word problem, the vans’ arrival every 8, 16 and 24 minutes
are presented in the table below which shows how to find the Least Common Multiple
of the following set of numbers using continuous division: 8, 16 and 24.
Step 1 8 16 24 Arrange the given numbers horizontally
Step 2 2 8 16 24
Write the common prime divisor at the
2 4 8 12
2 2 4 6 left side and the quotients below the
numbers. Repeat the process until
1 2 3
there is no common divisor left.

Step 3 The common divisors are those numbers at the leftmost part.
The quotients, on the other hand are those numbers found at
the bottom
Solve for the 2 x 2 x 2 x 1 x 2 x 3 = 48
answer

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A) Common Factors and Greatest Common Factors

❖ Common factors are factors that are the same for two or more numbers.
❖ Greatest Common factor (GCF) is the greatest number that is a factor of two
or more numbers.

Let me see if you still remember how to find the common factors and the GCF of two
numbers. Study the given example.

Find the common factors and the GCF of the following numbers.

Example: 12, 16, and 18

Factors of 12 : 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Factors of 16 : 1, 2, 4, 8, 16
Factors of 18 : 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18
Common factors : 1 and 2
GCF: 2

1) 32 and 36 6) 24 and 48
2) 27 and 42 7) 21 and 54
3) 54 and 60 8) 72 and 81
4) 45 and 50 9) 55 and 100
5) 18 and 42 10) 120 and 180

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B) Common Multiple and Least Common Multiple

❖ The multiple of a number is a product obtained when multiplying a number

by a whole number.
Study the given example.

What are the multiples of 4? The multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, …

Why? This is because

4𝑥 1 = 4,
4𝑥 2 = 8,
4𝑥 3 = 12,
4 𝑥 4 = 16,
4 𝑥 5 = 20,
4 𝑥6 = 24, and so forth.

❖ The least common multiple (LCM) of a set of numbers is the smallest non-zero
that is a multiple of all numbers in a set.

Let us recall, below is an example of finding the multiples of a given number:

Example: Find the LCM of 8 and 12.

➢ Multiples of 8 = {8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 54, 60, …}

➢ Multiples of 12 = {12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, …}

What numbers are found in both sets?

These are 24, 48, 60, are the common multiples of 8 and 12.

What is the smallest among these numbers? It is 24.

Thus, the LCM of 8 and 12 is 24.

Do the exercises below.

Find the LCM of each set of numbers.

1) 7 and 21 6) 6, 12, and 18

2) 4, 8, and 12 7) 8, 16, and 20
3) 10, 15, and 45 8) 12, 20, and 28
4) 12, 18, and 36 9) 30, 40, and 50
5) 9, 12, and 18 10) 3, 12, and 24

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Now you can apply what you have learned in finding the GCF and LCM.

A. Directions: Copy the table below on your notebook. Then, using the
continuous division, fill in the correct information in each blank.

Common
Numbers GCF LCM
Factors
1) 36, 48
2) 12, 16, 30
3) 24, 36, 48
4) 14, 21, 28, 35
5) 15, 30, 45, 60
6) 8, 16, 32
7) 18, 36, 72
8) 9, 12, 18
9) 30, 60, 80
10) 2, 10, 20

B. Directions: Write T if the statement given is true. If the statement is false,

change the underlined numbers to make it true. Write your answers in
your Math activity notebook.

1) The LCM of 3 x 3 x 2 and 2 x 3 x 2 is 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3.

2) 180 is the LCM of 30 and 36.
3) The LCM of 5 x 2, 3 x 2, and 3 x 5 is 2 x 3 x 5.
4) The LCM of 15, 20 and 30 is 120.
5) 140 is the LCM of 14, 28, and 40.

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 Additional Activities

Directions: Copy these illustrations in your answer sheet. Write the common prime
divisor at the left side of the numbers. Repeat the process until there is no common
divisor left.

1) 4 8 40 6) 2 12 24 44
2 4 20 2 6 12 22
1 2 10
Missing numbers: , Missing numbers: , ,
LCM = , GCF = LCM = , GCF =

2) 20 30 60 7) 10 15 20
4 6 12 2 3
2 6 Missing numbers: ,
Missing numbers: , , LCM = , GCF =
LCM = , GCF =

3) 4 16 24 32 8) 18 24 36
4 6 8 6 8 12
2 3 6

Missing numbers: , , Missing numbers: , ,

LCM = , GCF = LCM = , GCF =

4) 2 16 24 40 9) 20 40 50 60
8 20 2
2 6 Missing numbers: , , ,
2 LCM = , GCF =
Missing numbers: , ,
, , 10)
LCM = , GCF =

5) 2 16 24 48 2 3 4 9

8 Missing numbers: , , ,
3 6 , ,
Missing numbers: , , , LCM = , GCF =
LCM = , GCF =

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References

Coronel, Carmelita C. and Nelia D. Bamba. 2010. Mathematics for a Better Life. SD
Publication.

Department of Education. n.d. Grade 5: Lesson Guides in Elementary Mathematics.

Philippines: Department of Education.
Department of Education. n.d. Grade 5: Today's Math. Philippines: Department of
Education.
Kota, Manuel T., et al.. 2005. Soaring 21ST Century Mathematics. Phoenix Publishing
House, Grade 5.

Ursua , Alvin C. and Angeline P. Lumbre. 2016. 21st Century Mathletes Textbook.
Quezon City: Vibal Group Inc.

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