Question

Find the common factor of the given terms.
$12x,36$

Answer 1

Given terns are $12x$ and $36$.

Clearly, $x$ is a variable and it is not common factor of $12x$ and $36$.

Now, lets do prime factorization of $12$ and $36$.

$\begin{array}{cc}2& 12\\ 2& 6\\ 3& 3\\ & 1\end{array}$

$12=2\times 2\times 3$

$\begin{array}{ccc}2& 36& \\ 2& 18& \\ 3& 9& \\ 3& 3& \\ & 1& \end{array}$

$36=2\times 2\times 3\times 3$

Now, the common factors in $12$ and $36$ is $2\times 2\times 3=12$.

So, the common factor of $12x,36=12$