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In algebra, the greatest common factor (GCF) of two or more expressions is defined as what?
AThe largest expression that divides all of them
BThe smallest multiple shared by all of them
CThe sum of all their common factors
DThe product of all the given expressions
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The largest expression that divides all of them
1. The definition names the GCF as the largest expression that is a factor of every expression in the list.
2. A shared multiple, rather than a shared factor, is instead what the least common multiple looks for.
3. Adding or multiplying the common factors together does not match the definition, which asks for the single largest one.
_Source: OpenStax Elementary Algebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Factoring", section 7.1 Greatest Common Factor and Factor by Grouping_
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