The greatest common factor of 48 and 32 is

Answer 1

To find the greatest common factor (GCF) of 48 and 32, we can use the prime factorization method.

1. Prime Factorization:

   • The prime factorization of 48 is: \[ 48 = 2^4 \times 3^1 \]
   • The prime factorization of 32 is: \[ 32 = 2^5 \]

2. Identify Common Factors:

   • The common prime factor is \(2\).
   • The lowest exponent for the common prime factor \(2\) is \(4\) (from \(2^4\) in the factorization of 48).

3. Calculate the GCF: \[ \text{GCF} = 2^4 = 16 \]

Thus, the greatest common factor of 48 and 32 is 16.