Question

Find the greatest common factor (GCF/HCF) of the following polynomial:
4a²b³, −12a³b, 18a⁴b³

Answer 1

The numerical coefficients of the given monomials are 4, -12 and 18. The greatest common factor of 4, -12 and 18 is 2.
The common literals appearing in the three monomials are a and b.
The smallest power of a in the three monomials is 2.
The smallest power of b in the three monomials is 1.
The monomial of the common literals with the smallest powers is a²b.
​Hence, the greatest common factor is 2a²b​.