GCF is the greatest common factor, that divides two number and the distributive property is that when a number multiplied with each number in the bracket and then perform addition or subtraction etc.
GCF help with distributive property and it is important to use when factoring a sum of two numbers. For example we have to add fractions 2/3 and 4/9, now the GCF is 9
2/3 + 4/9
= 2(3) + 4 (1) / 9
Now 2 is the common factor, so it allow us to use the distributive property.
= 2 (3 + 2) / 9
= 2(5) /9
=10 / 9 is the answer.