PSAT Math : How to find the greatest common factor

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Greatest Common Factor

If \displaystyle v is divisible by 2, 3 and 15, which of the following is also divisible by these numbers?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle v+20

\displaystyle v+45

\displaystyle v+5

\displaystyle v+15

\displaystyle v+30

Correct answer:

\displaystyle v+30

Explanation:

Since v is divisible by 2, 3 and 15, v must be a multiple of 30. Any number that is divisible by both 2 and 15 must be divisible by their product, 30, since this is the least common multiple.

Out of all the answer choices, v + 30 is the only one that equals a multiple of 30.

Example Question #71 : Integers

Suppose that \displaystyle m is an integer such that \displaystyle \frac{m}{4} is ten greater than \displaystyle \frac{m}{3}. What is the value of \displaystyle m?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 120

\displaystyle 40

\displaystyle 60

\displaystyle -120

\displaystyle -40

Correct answer:

\displaystyle -120

Explanation:

We are given information that m/4 is 10 greater than m/3. We set up an equation where m/4 = m/3 + 10.

We must then give the m variables a common denominator in order to solve for m. Since 3 * 4 = 12, we can use 12 as our denominator for both m variables.

m/4 = m/3 + 10 (Multiply m/4 by 3 in the numerator and denominator.)

3m/12 = m/3 + 10 (Multiply m/3 by 4 in the numerator and denominator.)

3m/12 = 4m/12 + 10 (Subtract 4m/12 on both sides.)

-m/12 = 10 (Multiply both sides by -12.)

m = -120

-120/4 = -30 and -120/3 = -40. -30 is 10 greater than -40.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Greatest Common Factor

\displaystyle ABC = 18\displaystyle A\displaystyle B, and \displaystyle C are distinct integers.

Which of the following is a possible value of \displaystyle A + B + C ?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 16

\displaystyle 8

\displaystyle 12

\displaystyle 20

\displaystyle 14

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 12

Explanation:

We need to find ways to factor 18 such that the three factors are different, and then find the sum of those factors in each case.

18 can be factored as the product of three integers in four ways:

I) \displaystyle 1 \times 1 \times 18

II) \displaystyle 1 \times 2 \times 9

III) \displaystyle 1 \times 3 \times 6

IV) \displaystyle 2 \times 3 \times 3

Disregard I and IV since each repeats a factor. 

In (II), the sum of the factors is \displaystyle 1 + 2 + 9= 12; in (III) the sum is \displaystyle 1 + 3 + 6 = 10. Of the five choices, only 12 is possible.

Example Question #1 : Factors / Multiples

\displaystyle ABC = 45.

\displaystyle A\displaystyle B, and \displaystyle C are integers; they may or may not be distinct.

Which of the following cannot be equal to \displaystyle A + B + C ?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 15

\displaystyle 19

\displaystyle 33

\displaystyle 47

\displaystyle 11

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 33

Explanation:

We look for ways to write 45 as the product of three integers, then we find the sum of the integers in each situation. They are:

\displaystyle 1 \times 1 \times 45

Sum: \displaystyle 1 + 1 + 45 = 47

 

\displaystyle 1 \times 3 \times 15

Sum: \displaystyle 1 + 3 + 15 = 19

 

\displaystyle 1 \times 5 \times 9

Sum: \displaystyle 1 + 5 + 9 = 15

 

\displaystyle 3 \times 3 \times 5

Sum: \displaystyle 3 + 3 + 5 = 11

 

Of the five choices, only 33 is not a  possible sum of the factors. This is the correct choice.

Example Question #7 : Factors / Multiples

What is the greatest common factor of \displaystyle 144 and \displaystyle 72?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 24

\displaystyle 12

\displaystyle 144

\displaystyle 8

\displaystyle 72

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 72

Explanation:

The greatest common factor is the largest factor that both numbers share. Each number has many factors. The factors for 72 are as follows:

\displaystyle 72: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72

Starting from the largest factor, 72, we can see that it is also a factor of 144

\displaystyle 144 = (72 \times 2).

Therefore, 72 is the greatest common factor.

Example Question #11 : Factors / Multiples

\displaystyle x, \displaystyle y, and \displaystyle z are positive two-digit integers. 

The greatest common divisor of \displaystyle x and \displaystyle y is 10.

The greatest common divisor of \displaystyle y and \displaystyle z is 9.

The greatest common divisor of \displaystyle x and \displaystyle z is 8.

If \displaystyle \frac{yz}{x} is an integer, which of the following could it be equal to?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 190

\displaystyle 360

\displaystyle 119

\displaystyle 253

\displaystyle 162

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 162

Explanation:

The greatest common divisor of \displaystyle x and \displaystyle y is 10. This means that the prime factorizations of \displaystyle x and \displaystyle y must both contain a 2 and a 5. 

The greatest common divisor of \displaystyle y and \displaystyle z is 9. This means that the prime factorizations of \displaystyle y and \displaystyle z must both contain two 3's.

The greatest common divisor of \displaystyle x and \displaystyle z is 8. This means that the prime factorizations of \displaystyle x and \displaystyle z must both contain three 2's.

Thus:

\displaystyle x=2^3*5*A,\ y=2*3^2*5*B,\ z=2^3*3^2*C

We substitute these equalities into the given expression and simplify.

\displaystyle \frac{yz}{x}=\frac{(2*3^2*5*B)(2^3*3^2*C)}{(2^3*5*A)} = \frac{162BC}{A}

Since \displaystyle y and \displaystyle z are two-digit integers (equal to \displaystyle 90B and \displaystyle 72Crespectively), we must have \displaystyle B=1 and \displaystyle C=1. Any other factor values for \displaystyle B or \displaystyle C will produce three-digit integers (or greater).

\displaystyle x is equal to \displaystyle 40A, so \displaystyle A could be either 1 or 2. 

Therefore:

\displaystyle \frac{yz}{x}=162

or 

\displaystyle \frac{yz}{x}=81

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors