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106 LearnersLast updated on August 11, 2025
GCF of 5 and 12
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 5 and 12.
What is the GCF of 5 and 12?
The greatest common factor of 5 and 12 is 1. 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 5 and 12?
To find the GCF of 5 and 12, a few methods are described below - Listing Factors Prime Factorization Long Division Method / by Euclidean Algorithm
GCF of 5 and 12 Using Listing of Factors
Steps to find the GCF of 5 and 12 using the listing of factors
Step 1: Firstly, list the factors of each number Factors of 5 = 1, 5. Factors of 12 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.
Step 2: Now, identify the common factors of them Common factors of 5 and 12: 1.
Step 3: Choose the largest factor The largest factor that both numbers have is 1. The GCF of 5 and 12 is 1.
GCF of 5 and 12 Using Prime Factorization
To find the GCF of 5 and 12 using the Prime Factorization Method, follow these steps:
Step 1: Find the prime factors of each number Prime Factors of 5: 5 = 5
Prime Factors of 12: 12 = 2 x 2 x 3 = 2² x 3
Step 2: Now, identify the common prime factors There are no common prime factors.
Step 3: Since there are no common prime factors, the GCF is 1. The Greatest Common Factor of 5 and 12 is 1.
GCF of 5 and 12 Using Division Method or Euclidean Algorithm Method
Find the GCF of 5 and 12 using the division method or Euclidean Algorithm Method. Follow these steps:
Step 1: First, divide the larger number by the smaller number Here, divide 12 by 5 12 ÷ 5 = 2 (quotient), The remainder is calculated as 12 − (5×2) = 2 The remainder is 2, not zero, so continue the process
Step 2: Now divide the previous divisor (5) by the previous remainder (2) Divide 5 by 2 5 ÷ 2 = 2 (quotient), remainder = 5 − (2×2) = 1 The remainder is 1, not zero, so continue the process
Step 3: Now divide the previous divisor (2) by the previous remainder (1) Divide 2 by 1 2 ÷ 1 = 2 (quotient), remainder = 2 − (1×2) = 0
The remainder is zero, the divisor will become the GCF. The GCF of 5 and 12 is 1.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in GCF of 5 and 12
Finding GCF of 5 and 12 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 12, 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 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 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 5 and 12 Examples
Problem 1
An artist has 5 brushes and 12 paints. She wants to pack them into equal sets, with the largest number of items in each set. How many items will be in each set?
We should find GCF of 5 and 12 GCF of 5 and 12 is 1. There are 1 equal set 5 ÷ 1 = 5 12 ÷ 1 = 12 There will be 1 set, and each set gets 5 brushes and 12 paints.
Explanation
As the GCF of 5 and 12 is 1, the artist can make 1 set. Now divide 5 and 12 by 1. Each set gets 5 brushes and 12 paints.
Problem 2
A school has 5 red balls and 12 blue balls. They want to arrange them in rows with the same number of balls in each row, using the largest possible number of balls per row. How many balls will be in each row?
GCF of 5 and 12 is 1. So each row will have 1 ball.
Explanation
There are 5 red and 12 blue balls. To find the total number of balls in each row, we should find the GCF of 5 and 12. There will be 1 ball in each row.
Problem 3
A florist has 5 meters of red ribbon and 12 meters of blue ribbon. She wants to cut both ribbons into pieces of equal length, using the longest possible length. What should be the length of each piece?
For calculating longest equal length, we have to calculate the GCF of 5 and 12 The GCF of 5 and 12 is 1. The ribbon is 1 meter long.
Explanation
For calculating the longest length of the ribbon first we need to calculate the GCF of 5 and 12 which is 1. The length of each piece of the ribbon will be 1 meter.
Problem 4
A carpenter has two wooden planks, one 5 cm long and the other 12 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 5 and 12 is 1. The longest length of each piece is 1 cm.
Explanation
To find the longest length of each piece of the two wooden planks, 5 cm and 12 cm, respectively. We have to find the GCF of 5 and 12, which is 1 cm. The longest length of each piece is 1 cm.
Problem 5
If the GCF of 5 and ‘b’ is 1, and the LCM is 60. Find ‘b’.
The value of ‘b’ is 12.
Explanation
GCF x LCM = product of the numbers 1 × 60 = 5 × b 60 = 5b b = 60 ÷ 5 = 12
FAQs on the Greatest Common Factor of 5 and 12
1.What is the LCM of 5 and 12?
2.Is 5 divisible by 2?
3.What will be the GCF of any two prime numbers?
4.What is the prime factorization of 12?
5.Are 5 and 12 prime numbers?
Important Glossaries for GCF of 5 and 12
- Factors: Factors are numbers that divide the target number completely. For example, the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.
- Multiple: Multiples are the products we get by multiplying a given number by another. For example, the multiples of 3 are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 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 factor of 5 is 5.
- Remainder: The value left after division when the number cannot be divided evenly. For example, when 12 is divided by 5, the remainder is 2.
- LCM: The smallest common multiple of two or more numbers is termed LCM. For example, the LCM of 5 and 12 is 60.
- GCF: The largest factor that commonly divides two or more numbers. For example, the GCF of 5 and 12 will be 1, as it is their largest common factor that divides the numbers completely.
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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.
