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128 LearnersLast updated on December 11, 2025
GCF of 21 and 33
The GCF is the largest number that can divide two or more numbers without leaving any remainder. GCF is used to share the items equally, to group or arrange items, and schedule events. In this topic, we will learn about the GCF of 21 and 33.
What is the GCF of 21 and 33?
The greatest common factor of 21 and 33 is 3.
The largest divisor of two or more numbers is called the GCF of the number.
If two numbers are co-prime, they have no common factors other than 1, so their GCF is 1.
The GCF of two numbers cannot be negative because divisors are always positive.
How to find the GCF of 21 and 33?
To find the GCF of 21 and 33, a few methods are described below -
- Listing Factors
- Prime Factorization
- Long Division Method / by Euclidean Algorithm
GCF of 21 and 33 by Using Listing of Factors
Steps to find the GCF of 21 and 33 using the listing of factors
Step 1: Firstly, list the factors of each number Factors of 21 = 1, 3, 7, 21. Factors of 33 = 1, 3, 11, 33.
Step 2: Now, identify the common factors of them Common factors of 21 and 33: 1, 3.
Step 3: Choose the largest factor The largest factor that both numbers have is 3.
The GCF of 21 and 33 is 3.
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GCF of 21 and 33 Using Prime Factorization
To find the GCF of 21 and 33 using the Prime Factorization Method, follow these steps:
Step 1: Find the prime factors of each number Prime factors of 21: 21 = 3 x 7 Prime factors of 33: 33 = 3 x 11
Step 2: Now, identify the common prime factors The common prime factor is: 3.
Step 3: Multiply the common prime factors. The Greatest Common Factor of 21 and 33 is 3.
GCF of 21 and 33 Using Division Method or Euclidean Algorithm Method
Find the GCF of 21 and 33 using the division method or Euclidean Algorithm Method. Follow these steps:
Step 1: First, divide the larger number by the smaller number Here, divide 33 by 21 33 ÷ 21 = 1 (quotient), The remainder is calculated as 33 − (21×1) = 12 The remainder is 12, not zero, so continue the process.
Step 2: Now divide the previous divisor (21) by the previous remainder (12) Divide 21 by 12 21 ÷ 12 = 1 (quotient), remainder = 21 − (12×1) = 9.
Step 3: Divide the previous divisor (12) by the previous remainder (9) 12 ÷ 9 = 1 (quotient), remainder = 12 − (9×1) = 3.
Step 4: Divide the previous divisor (9) by the previous remainder (3) 9 ÷ 3 = 3 (quotient), remainder = 0 The remainder is zero, the divisor will become the GCF. The GCF of 21 and 33 is 3.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in GCF of 21 and 33
Finding GCF of 21 and 33 looks simple, but students often make mistakes while calculating the GCF.
Here are some common mistakes to be avoided by the students.
Mistake 1
Listing Incorrect Factors
Students may sometimes list incorrect factors.
For example, while listing factors of 21, students may mention 5, which is incorrect. To avoid this, students should carefully divide the number and list the factors correctly.
Mistake 2
Choosing the wrong common factor
Students may sometimes select the smallest common factor instead of the largest one.
To avoid this confusion, students should list all the common factors and find the greatest one.
Mistake 3
Forgetting to include 1 as a factor
Sometimes students may forget 1 as a common factor of the numbers.
However, it does not affect the GCF, but it indicates an incomplete understanding of the factors.
Students should include 1 as a factor.
Mistake 4
Using Multiples instead of factors
Students confuse factors and multiples.
In that confusion, sometimes they may write multiples instead of factors.
To avoid this confusion, students should know the definitions of multiples and factors clearly.
Mistake 5
Assuming GCF is always an even number
Students may assume that the GCF of two numbers will always be an even number.
But it's not true that a GCF can also be an odd number.
To avoid this, students should focus on common factors rather than focusing on even and odd numbers.
Greatest Common Factor of 21 and 33 Examples
Problem 1
A chef has 21 apples and 33 oranges. She wants to create fruit baskets with an equal number of fruits, using the largest possible number of fruits in each basket. How many fruits will be in each basket?
We should find the GCF of 21 and 33, GCF of 21 and 33 is 3.
21 ÷ 3 = 7,
33 ÷ 3 = 11
There will be 3 baskets, and each basket gets 7 apples and 11 oranges.
Explanation
As the GCF of 21 and 33 is 3, the chef can make 3 baskets.
Now divide 21 and 33 by 3.
Each basket gets 7 apples and 11 oranges.
Problem 2
A school has 21 red flags and 33 blue flags. They want to arrange them in rows with the same number of flags in each row, using the largest possible number of flags per row. How many flags will be in each row?
GCF of 21 and 33 is 3.
So each row will have 3 flags.
Explanation
There are 21 red and 33 blue flags.
To find the total number of flags in each row, we should find the GCF of 21 and 33.
There will be 3 flags in each row.
Problem 3
A gardener has 21 meters of red hose and 33 meters of blue hose. She wants to cut both hoses into pieces of equal length, using the longest possible length. What should be the length of each piece?
For calculating the longest equal length, we have to calculate the GCF of 21 and 33.
The GCF of 21 and 33 is 3.
The hose is 3 meters long.
Explanation
For calculating the longest length of the hose, first we need to calculate the GCF of 21 and 33, which is 3.
The length of each piece of hose will be 3 meters.
Problem 4
A carpenter has two wooden planks, one 21 cm long and the other 33 cm long. He wants to cut them into the longest possible equal pieces, without any wood left over. What should be the length of each piece?
The carpenter needs the longest piece of wood.
GCF of 21 and 33 is 3.
The longest length of each piece is 3 cm.
Explanation
To find the longest length of each piece of the two wooden planks, 21 cm and 33 cm, respectively.
We have to find the GCF of 21 and 33, which is 3 cm.
The longest length of each piece is 3 cm.
Problem 5
If the GCF of 21 and โaโ is 3, and the LCM is 231. Find โaโ.
The value of ‘a’ is 33.
Explanation
GCF x LCM = product of the numbers
3 × 231 = 21 × a
693 = 21a
a = 693 ÷ 21 = 33
FAQs on the Greatest Common Factor of 21 and 33
1.What is the LCM of 21 and 33?
2.Is 21 divisible by 3?
3.What will be the GCF of any two prime numbers?
4.What is the prime factorization of 33?
5.Are 21 and 33 prime numbers?
Important Glossaries for GCF of 21 and 33
- Factors: Factors are numbers that divide the target number completely. For example, the factors of 21 are 1, 3, 7, and 21.
- Prime Factorization: Expressing a number as the product of its prime factors. For example, the prime factorization of 33 is 3 x 11.
- Remainder: The value left after division when the number cannot be divided evenly. For example, when 21 is divided by 4, the remainder is 1, and the quotient is 5.
- GCF: The largest factor that commonly divides two or more numbers. For example, the GCF of 21 and 33 is 3, as it is their largest common factor that divides the numbers completely.
- LCM: The smallest common multiple of two or more numbers is termed LCM. For example, the LCM of 21 and 33 is 231.
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana
About the Author
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
Fun Fact
: She loves to read number jokes and games.
