Question

Find the greatest common factor of the given monomials.

$1.$ $3m$ and $6n$

$2.$ $ax$ and $-5ab$

Answer 1

$1.$

Let us rewrite the given monomials as product of its factors,

$3m=3\times m$

$6n=2\times 3\times n$

Hence, greatest common factor of $3m$ and $6n$ is $3.$

$2.$

Let us rewrite the given monomials as product of its factors,

$ax=a\times x$

$-5ab=-5\times a\times b$

Hence, greatest common factor of $ax$ and $-5ab$ is $a.$