Question

Find the gcf of 8a^3b^2 and 12ab^4

Answer 1

To find the greatest common factor (GCF) of 8a^3b^2 and 12ab^4, we need to factor each term into its prime factors and then find the common factors.

8a^3b^2 can be written as:

8a^3b^2 = 2^3 * 2 * a * a * a * b * b

12ab^4 can be written as:

12ab^4 = 2^2 * 3 * a * b * b * b * b

The common factors are 2, a, and b^2.

Therefore, the GCF of 8a^3b^2 and 12ab^4 is:

2 * a * b^2 = 2ab^2