Mathematics · Greatest common factor

GCF of 24 and 32

The greatest common factor of 24 and 32 is 8. It is the largest whole number that divides both 24 and 32 with no remainder.

You will also see it written as the highest common factor (HCF) or the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 24 and 32. All three names mean the same thing.

Greatest common factor

8

GCF, GCD or HCF of 24 and 32

Least common multiple

96

LCM of 24 and 32

24/32 simplified

3/4

both divided by 8

Below is the same answer reached three different ways, because different classes teach different methods. Every line is worked out for these two numbers, so you can copy the one your teacher asks for.

01

Listing the factors of 24 and 32

Factors of 24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24
Factors of 32: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32

Common factors: 1, 2, 4, 8
Greatest of those = 8

The common factors of 24 and 32 are 1, 2, 4 and 8, and that is the complete list. The largest one, 8, is the GCF.

02

Prime factorization method

24 = 23 × 3 (2 × 2 × 2 × 3)
32 = 25 (2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2)

Shared primes at their lowest power: 23
GCF = 8

Take every prime that appears in both lists, each at the lower of its two powers, and multiply them: 23 gives 8.

03

Euclid's algorithm, step by step

32 ÷ 24 = 1 remainder 8
24 ÷ 8 = 3 remainder 0

Last non-zero remainder = 8, so the GCF is 8

Divide the larger number by the smaller, then keep dividing the previous divisor by the remainder. When the remainder reaches zero, the divisor you used last is the GCF. It took 2 steps for 24 and 32.

04

LCM of 24 and 32, and the fraction 24/32

For any two numbers, the GCF multiplied by the LCM equals the two numbers multiplied together. That gives a quick way to get one from the other, and a way to check both.

GCF × LCM = 8 × 96 = 768
24 × 32 = 768
They match, so both answers are right

Dividing the top and bottom of 24/32 by 8 reduces it to 3/4, which is as far as it goes. Anything smaller than the GCF would leave the fraction reducible.

05

GCF of 24 and 32: FAQs

What is the GCF of 24 and 32?

The GCF of 24 and 32 is 8. It is the largest whole number that divides both of them exactly.

What are the common factors of 24 and 32?

The common factors of 24 and 32 are 1, 2, 4 and 8. The greatest of them is 8.

Is the GCF of 32 and 24 the same as the GCF of 24 and 32?

Yes. The order makes no difference. The greatest common factor of 32 and 24 is 8, exactly the same as the GCF of 24 and 32, because you are looking at the same two numbers either way. The same is true if you see it written as the highest common factor of 32 and 24.

What is the LCM of 24 and 32?

The LCM of 24 and 32 is 96. You can check it with GCF times LCM: 8 times 96 equals 768, which is the same as 24 times 32.

Are 24 and 32 coprime?

No. 24 and 32 share 8 as a common factor, so they are not coprime. Coprime numbers have a GCF of exactly 1.

How do you simplify 24/32?

Divide the top and the bottom by their GCF, which is 8. That gives 24 divided by 8 equals 3, and 32 divided by 8 equals 4, so 24/32 simplifies to 3/4.

Which method is quickest for 24 and 32?

Euclid's algorithm, because it reaches the answer in 2 steps and you never have to write out the full factor lists.

06

Nearby pairs

Any other numbers? The GCF Calculator takes two to ten values and shows the same three methods, and the math calculators page has the rest of the set.

Open the GCF Calculator →
Aayush Kulshrestha, founder of Calcxi

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Aayush Kulshrestha

B.Tech Computer Science · 8 years in web development & SEO · Bhilwara, India
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