Discovering GCF: Real-Life Word Problems for 6th Graders

1. Sarah has 24 apples and 36 oranges. What is the greatest common factor (GCF) of the number of apples and oranges?

• 18

• 12

• 24

• 6

2. A gardener is planting flowers in rows. He has 18 tulips and 30 daisies. What is the GCF of the number of tulips and daisies he can plant in each row?

• 9

• 6

• 3

• 12

3. Two friends are making gift bags. One has 40 candies and the other has 60 candies. What is the GCF of the candies they can use to make equal gift bags?

• 20

• 10

• 50

• 30

4. A teacher has 48 pencils and 72 erasers. What is the GCF of the pencils and erasers if she wants to distribute them equally among students?

• 36

• 12

• 48

• 24

5. Emily is organizing her toy cars. She has 28 red cars and 42 blue cars. What is the GCF of the two types of cars?

• 21

• 7

• 35

• 14

6. A baker has 36 cookies and 48 cupcakes. What is the GCF of the cookies and cupcakes if he wants to pack them in boxes with the same number of each?

• 6

• 18

• 12

• 24

7. Mark is making fruit baskets. He has 54 bananas and 90 apples. What is the GCF of the fruits he can use to create equal baskets?

• 18

• 27

• 36

• 45

8. A sports coach has 60 baseballs and 84 softballs. What is the GCF of the baseballs and softballs for equal distribution among players?

• 42

• 20

• 12

• 30

9. Lisa has 32 stickers and 48 stamps. What is the GCF of the stickers and stamps if she wants to create sets with the same number of each?

• 16

• 24

• 8

• 12

10. A musician has 18 guitars and 30 drums. What is the GCF of the instruments he can use to form equal groups for practice?

• 9

• 3

• 12

• 6