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101 LearnersLast updated on September 18, 2025
GCF of 42 and 60
The GCF is the largest number that can divide two or more numbers without leaving any remainder. GCF is used to share items equally, to group or arrange items, and schedule events. In this topic, we will learn about the GCF of 42 and 60.
What is the GCF of 42 and 60?
The greatest common factor of 42 and 60 is 6. 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 42 and 60?
To find the GCF of 42 and 60, a few methods are described below
- Listing Factors
- Prime Factorization
- Long Division Method / by Euclidean Algorithm
GCF of 42 and 60 by Using Listing of factors
Steps to find the GCF of 42 and 60 using the listing of factors
Step 1: Firstly, list the factors of each number
Factors of 42 = 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 42.
Factors of 60 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60.
Step 2: Now, identify the common factors of them Common factors of 42 and 60: 1, 2, 3, 6.
Step 3: Choose the largest factor The largest factor that both numbers have is 6. The GCF of 42 and 60 is 6.
GCF of 42 and 60 Using Prime Factorization
To find the GCF of 42 and 60 using the Prime Factorization Method, follow these steps:
Step 1: Find the prime factors of each number
Prime Factors of 42: 42 = 2 x 3 x 7
Prime Factors of 60: 60 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5
Step 2: Now, identify the common prime factors The common prime factors are: 2 x 3
Step 3: Multiply the common prime factors 2 x 3 = 6. The Greatest Common Factor of 42 and 60 is 6.
GCF of 42 and 60 Using Division Method or Euclidean Algorithm Method
Find the GCF of 42 and 60 using the division method or Euclidean Algorithm Method. Follow these steps:
Step 1: First, divide the larger number by the smaller number Here, divide 60 by 42 60 ÷ 42 = 1 (quotient),
The remainder is calculated as 60 − (42×1) = 18
The remainder is 18, not zero, so continue the process
Step 2: Now divide the previous divisor (42) by the previous remainder (18) Divide 42 by 18 42 ÷ 18 = 2 (quotient), remainder = 42 − (18×2) = 6
Step 3: Now divide the previous divisor (18) by the previous remainder (6) 18 ÷ 6 = 3 (quotient), remainder is 0 The remainder is zero, the divisor will become the GCF.
The GCF of 42 and 60 is 6.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in GCF of 42 and 60
Finding GCF of 42 and 60 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 42, students may mention 8, 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 tells about the incomplete understanding of the factors. Students should include 1 as a factor.
Mistake 4
Using Multiples instead of factors
Students confuse between 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 42 and 60 Examples
Problem 1
A chef has 42 apples and 60 oranges. She wants to create gift baskets with the largest number of fruit items in each basket, with each basket having an equal number of apples and oranges. How many fruit items will be in each basket?
We should find the GCF of 42 and 60 GCF of 42 and 60 is 6.
There are 6 equal fruit baskets. 42 ÷ 6 = 7 apples per basket 60 ÷ 6 = 10 oranges per basket
Each basket will have 17 fruit items.
Explanation
As the GCF of 42 and 60 is 6, the chef can make 6 baskets.
Now divide 42 apples and 60 oranges by 6.
Each basket gets 7 apples and 10 oranges.
Problem 2
A gardener has 42 rose plants and 60 tulip plants. She wants to plant them in rows with the same number of plants in each row, using the largest possible number of plants per row. How many plants will be in each row?
GCF of 42 and 60 is 6. So each row will have 6 plants.
Explanation
There are 42 rose and 60 tulip plants.
To find the total number of plants in each row, we should find the GCF of 42 and 60.
There will be 6 plants in each row.
Problem 3
A tailor has 42 meters of red fabric and 60 meters of blue fabric. She wants to cut both fabrics 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 42 and 60.
The GCF of 42 and 60 is 6.
The fabric is 6 meters long.
Explanation
For calculating the longest length of the fabric, first, we need to calculate the GCF of 42 and 60, which is 6.
The length of each piece of the fabric will be 6 meters.
Problem 4
A carpenter has two wooden planks, one 42 cm long and the other 60 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 42 and 60 is 6.
The longest length of each piece is 6 cm.
Explanation
To find the longest length of each piece of the two wooden planks, 42 cm and 60 cm, respectively, we have to find the GCF of 42 and 60, which is 6 cm.
The longest length of each piece is 6 cm.
Problem 5
If the GCF of 42 and ‘b’ is 6, and the LCM is 420, find ‘b’.
The value of ‘b’ is 60.
Explanation
GCF x LCM = product of the numbers
6 × 420 = 42 × b
2520 = 42b
b = 2520 ÷ 42 = 60
FAQs on the Greatest Common Factor of 42 and 60
1.What is the LCM of 42 and 60?
2.Is 42 divisible by 2?
3.What will be the GCF of any two prime numbers?
4.What is the prime factorization of 60?
5.Are 42 and 60 prime numbers?
Important Glossaries for GCF of 42 and 60
- Factors: Factors are numbers that divide the target number completely. For example, the factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, and 6.
- Multiple: Multiples are the products we get by multiplying a given number by another. For example, the multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, 20, and so on.
- Prime Factors: These are the factors of a number that are prime numbers and divide the given number completely. For example, the prime factors of 30 are 2, 3, and 5.
- Remainder: The value left after division when the number cannot be divided evenly. For example, when 13 is divided by 5, the remainder is 3 and the quotient is 2.
- LCM: The smallest common multiple of two or more numbers is termed LCM. For example, the LCM of 42 and 60 is 420.
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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.
