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100 LearnersLast updated on September 18, 2025
GCF of 48 and 56
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 48 and 56.
What is the GCF of 48 and 56?
The greatest common factor of 48 and 56 is 8. 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, which are always positive.
How to find the GCF of 48 and 56?
To find the GCF of 48 and 56, a few methods are described below
- Listing Factors
- Prime Factorization
- Long Division Method / by Euclidean Algorithm
GCF of 48 and 56 by Using Listing of Factors
Steps to find the GCF of 48 and 56 using the listing of factors
Step 1: Firstly, list the factors of each number
Factors of 48 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48.
Factors of 56 = 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 28, 56.
Step 2: Now, identify the common factors of them Common factors of 48 and 56: 1, 2, 4, 8.
Step 3: Choose the largest factor The largest factor that both numbers have is 8. The GCF of 48 and 56 is 8.
GCF of 48 and 56 Using Prime Factorization
To find the GCF of 48 and 56 using the Prime Factorization Method, follow these steps:
Step 1: Find the prime factors of each number
Prime Factors of 48: 48 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 = 24 x 3
Prime Factors of 56: 56 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 7 = 23 x 7
Step 2: Now, identify the common prime factors The common prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 = 23
Step 3: Multiply the common prime factors 2^3 = 8. The Greatest Common Factor of 48 and 56 is 8.
GCF of 48 and 56 Using Division Method or Euclidean Algorithm Method
Find the GCF of 48 and 56 using the division method or Euclidean Algorithm Method. Follow these steps:
Step 1: First, divide the larger number by the smaller number
Here, divide 56 by 48 56 ÷ 48 = 1 (quotient),
The remainder is calculated as 56 − (48×1) = 8
The remainder is 8, not zero, so continue the process
Step 2: Now divide the previous divisor (48) by the previous remainder (8)
Divide 48 by 8 48 ÷ 8 = 6 (quotient), remainder = 48 − (8×6) = 0
The remainder is zero, the divisor will become the GCF.
The GCF of 48 and 56 is 8.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in GCF of 48 and 56
Finding GCF of 48 and 56 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 48, students may mention 10, 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 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 48 and 56 Examples
Problem 1
A chef has 48 apples and 56 oranges. She wants to arrange them in fruit baskets with the largest number of each fruit in each basket. How many fruits will be in each basket?
We should find the GCF of 48 and 56 GCF of 48 and 56 23 = 8.
There are 8 equal baskets 48 ÷ 8 = 6 56 ÷ 8 = 7
There will be 8 baskets, and each basket gets 6 apples and 7 oranges.
Explanation
As the GCF of 48 and 56 is 8, the chef can make 8 baskets.
Now divide 48 and 56 by 8.
Each basket gets 6 apples and 7 oranges.
Problem 2
A library has 48 novels and 56 magazines. They want to arrange them in rows with the same number of items in each row, using the largest possible number of items per row. How many items will be in each row?
GCF of 48 and 56 23 = 8.
So each row will have 8 items.
Explanation
There are 48 novels and 56 magazines.
To find the total number of items in each row, we should find the GCF of 48 and 56.
There will be 8 items in each row.
Problem 3
A tailor has 48 meters of cotton fabric and 56 meters of silk 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 48 and 56
The GCF of 48 and 56 23 = 8.
Each piece will be 8 meters long.
Explanation
For calculating the longest length of the fabric, first we need to calculate the GCF of 48 and 56, which is 8.
The length of each piece of fabric will be 8 meters.
Problem 4
A carpenter has two wooden planks, one 48 cm long and the other 56 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 48 and 56 23 = 8.
The longest length of each piece is 8 cm.
Explanation
To find the longest length of each piece of the two wooden planks, 48 cm and 56 cm, respectively, we have to find the GCF of 48 and 56, which is 8 cm.
The longest length of each piece is 8 cm.
Problem 5
If the GCF of 48 and ‘b’ is 8, and the LCM is 336, find ‘b’.
The value of ‘b’ is 56.
Explanation
GCF x LCM = product of the numbers
8 × 336 = 48 × b
2688 = 48b
b = 2688 ÷ 48 = 56
FAQs on the Greatest Common Factor of 48 and 56
1.What is the LCM of 48 and 56?
2.Is 48 divisible by 3?
3.What will be the GCF of any two prime numbers?
4.What is the prime factorization of 56?
5.Are 48 and 56 prime numbers?
Important Glossaries for GCF of 48 and 56
- Factors: Factors are numbers that divide the target number completely. For example, the factors of 16 are 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16.
- 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 20 are 2 and 5.
- Remainder: The value left after division when the number cannot be divided evenly. For example, when 14 is divided by 5, the remainder is 4 and the quotient is 2.
- LCM: The smallest common multiple of two or more numbers is termed LCM. For example, the LCM of 48 and 56 is 336.
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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.
