What is the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 8 and 12?

• A. 2
• B. 4
• C. 6
• D. 8

Answer: (B)

To determine the greatest common divisor (GCD) of 8 and 12, it is helpful to list the factors of each number:

For 8, the factors are:

1, 2, 4, 8

For 12, the factors are:

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

Next, we identify the common factors between the two sets. The common factors of 8 and 12 are:

1, 2, and 4.

Out of these common factors, the greatest one is 4. Therefore, the GCD of 8 and 12 is indeed 4.

This is why 4 is the correct answer. It represents the largest number that can evenly divide both 8 and 12 without leaving any remainder. Understanding the GCD is important in simplifying fractions, finding common denominators, and solving problems related to number theory.