Question

Find the greatest common factor (GCF/HCF) of the following polynomial:
6x²y², 9xy³, 3x³y²

Answer 1

The numerical coefficients of the given monomials are 6, 9 and 3. The greatest common factor of 6, 9 and 3 is 3.
The common literals appearing in the three monomials are x and y.
The smallest power of x in the three monomials is 1.
The smallest power of y in the three monomials is 2.
The monomial of common literals with the smallest powers is xy².
​Hence, the greatest common factor is 3xy²​.