GCM and GCF are both terms that refer to the same mathematical concept: the greatest number that divides evenly into two or more numbers.
Here's a breakdown:
- GCF stands for Greatest Common Factor. This is the most commonly used term.
- GCM stands for Greatest Common Measure. It's a less common, but equivalent, term for the same concept as GCF. It is also known as Highest Common Factor (HCF) or Greatest Common Divisor (GCD).
Therefore, GCM and GCF are different abbreviations for the same thing.
Example:
Let's find the GCF/GCM of 12 and 18:
- Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
- Factors of 18: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18
The greatest number that appears in both lists is 6. Therefore, the GCF (or GCM) of 12 and 18 is 6.
In summary, whether you call it the GCF or the GCM, you are referring to the largest factor that two or more numbers share.
