HCF of 4 and 12

The HCF of 4 and 12 is 4. Listing common factors, prime factorisation and long division are the three most frequent methods used for calculating the HCF of 4 and 12. The greatest number that divides 4 and 12 perfectly, leaving no remainder, is known as the HCF of 4 and 12. The factors of 4 and 12 are, 1, 2, 4 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, respectively.

Also read: Highest common factor

What is the HCF of 4 and 12?

The answer to this question is 4. This article shows how to find the HCF of 4 and 12 using various methods for your reference. The greatest of all their common factors is the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of two or more numbers.

How to Find HCF of 4 and 12?

There are three methods to find the HCF of 4 and 12:

• Prime Factorisation
• Long Division method
• Listing common factors

HCF of 4 and 12 by Prime Factorisation Method

The prime factorisation of 4 and 12 is given by:

Prime factorisation of 4 = (2 × 2) 

Prime factorisation of 12 = (2 × 2 × 3)

Hence, the HCF of 4 and 12 is 4.

HCF (4, 12) = 4

HCF of 4 and 12 by Long Division Method

The divisor that we get when the remainder is 0 after doing a long division repeatedly is the HCF of 4 and 12.

No further division can be done. 

Hence, HCF (4, 12) = 4

HCF of 4 and 12 by Listing Common Factors

To calculate the HCF of 4 and 12 by listing common factors, list the factors as shown below:

Factors of 4: 1, 2, 4

Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

There are 3 common factors of 4 and 12, and they are 1, 2, and 4. Therefore, the Highest Common Factor of 4 and 12 is 4.

Related Articles

• HCF
• HCF of Two Numbers
• HCF and LCM
• Relation between HCF and LCM
• GCF calculator

Video Lesson on Properties of HCF and LCM

HCF of 4 and 12 Solved Example

Find the highest number that divides 4 and 12 exactly.

Solution:

The highest number that divides 4 and 12 exactly is their Highest Common Factor .i.e HCF of 4 and 12.

⇒ Factors of 4 and 12:

Factors of 4 = 1, 2, 4

Factors of 12 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

Therefore, the HCF of 4 and 12 is 4.