How do you factor the expression 18 - 12 using the gcf?

Answer 1

write each number as a product of primes

18 = 9 x 2 = 3 x 3 x 2 = 3² x 2

12 = 6 x 2 = 3 x 2 x 2 = 3 x 2²

take each prime at its lowest power and multiply them together, 3 x 2

greatest common factor is 3 x 2 = 6

6 divides both 18 and 12 evenly

and there's no larger number for which that's true