Question 84750
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I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTION PLEASE. 
Find the GCF. 
36hk^3, 60k^2m, 84k^4n

Break everything down into prime factors

36hk<sup>3</sup> = 2·2·3·3·k·k·k

60k<sup>2</sup>m = 2·2·3·5·k·k·m

84k<sup>4</sup>n = 2·2·3·7·k·k·k·k·n

I notice that the first three factors 2·2·3 are common to 
all three expressions, so I will color them red.  You can 
just circle them on your paper:

36hk<sup>3</sup> = <font color = "red">2·2·3</font>·3·k·k·k

60k<sup>2</sup>m = <font color = "red">2·2·3</font>·5·k·k·m

84k<sup>4</sup>n = <font color = "red">2·2·3</font>·7·k·k·k·k·n

I can't color the remaining 3, the 5 or the 7 red because these 
are not common to all three expressions.  However, the first two 
k's are common to all three, so I can color them red: 

36hk<sup>3</sup> = <font color = "red">2·2·3</font>·3·<font color = "red">k·k</font>·k

60k<sup>2</sup>m = <font color = "red">2·2·3</font>·5·<font color = "red">k·k</font>·m

84k<sup>4</sup>n = <font color = "red">2·2·3</font>·7·<font color = "red">k·k</font>·k·k·n

I can't color any of the remaining k's in the first and third 
expressions red because they are not contained in the second.

So the GCF consists only of the red (or your circled) factors, so

GCF = <font color = "red">2·2·3·</font><font color = "red">k·k</font> 

Then multiply those together as

GCF = 12k<sup>2</sup>

If you do enough of these, you will learn to shorten this
process by doing some of it in your head.  You will also
notice that you will use the smallest exponent of any
letter that appears in all expressions.  But to get the
hang of GCF, do it this longer way for awhile.

Edwin</pre>