A worked example
The GCF of 12, 18 and 24 is 6 — the largest number that divides evenly into all three.
Frequently asked questions
Is GCF the same thing as GCD?
Yes — greatest common factor and greatest common divisor are two names for the exact same value, just different terminology depending on the textbook or region.
How does GCF help simplify a fraction?
Dividing both the numerator and denominator by their GCF reduces the fraction to its lowest terms in one step, rather than dividing by smaller common factors repeatedly.