Find the GCF of 24 and 42.

To find the GCF (Greatest Common Factor) of 24 and 42, we can use the prime factorization method:

Step 1: Find the prime factorization of each number.

• 24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3
• 42 = 2 x 3 x 7

Step 2: Identify the common prime factors and their lowest exponents.

• The common prime factors are 2 and 3.
• The lowest exponent of 2 is 2.
• The lowest exponent of 3 is 1.

Step 3: Multiply the common prime factors with their lowest exponents.

• GCF = 2^2 x 3^1 = 12

Therefore, the GCF of 24 and 42 is 12.