Find the GCF 36xy^2-48x^2y

Since ${\displaystyle 36x{y}^2,-48x^{2}y}$ contain both numbers and variables, there are two steps to find the GCF (HCF). Find GCF for the numeric part then find GCF for the variable part.

Steps to find the GCF for ${\displaystyle 36x{y}^2,-48x^{2}y}$:

1. Find the GCF for the numerical part ${\displaystyle 36,-48}$

2. Find the GCF for the variable part ${\displaystyle x^1,y^2,x^2,y^1}$

3. Multiply the values together

Find the common factors for the numerical part:

List all the factors for ${\displaystyle 36,-48}$ to find the common factors.

${\displaystyle 36}$: ${\displaystyle 1,2,3,4,6,9,12,18,36}$

${\displaystyle -48}$: ${\displaystyle -48,-24,-16,-12,-8,-6,-4,-3,-2,-1,1,2,3,4,6,8,12,16,24,48}$

The common factors for ${\displaystyle 36,-48}$ are ${\displaystyle 1,2,3,4,6,12}$.

The GCF for the numerical part is ${\displaystyle 12}$.

Next, find the common factors for the variable part:

The factor for ${\displaystyle x^1}$ is ${\displaystyle x}$ itself.

x

The factors for ${\displaystyle y^2}$ are ${\displaystyle y\cdot y}$.

The factors for ${\displaystyle x^2}$ are ${\displaystyle x\cdot x}$.

The factor for ${\displaystyle y^1}$ is ${\displaystyle y}$ itself.

y

List all the factors for ${\displaystyle x^1,y^2,x^2,y^1}$ to find the common factors.

The common factors for the variables ${\displaystyle x^1,y^2,x^2,y^1}$ are ${\displaystyle x\cdot y}$.

The GCF for the variable part is ${\displaystyle xy}$.