What is the greatest common factor of 16x4y3 and 12x2y7?

The greatest common factor, or GCF, is the greatest factor that divides two numbers. To find the GCF of two expression

1.     List the prime factors of each number.

2.     Multiply those factors both numbers have in common. If there are no common prime factors, the GCF is 1.

16x^4y^3 = ( 4*4)(x*x*x*x)(y*y*y)

12x^2y^7 = (4*3)(x*x)(y*y*y*y*y*y*y)

So common to them is 4x^2y^3 

example 2 – simplify: step 1: completely factor both the numerators and denominators of all fractions. step 2: change the division sign to a multiplication sign and flip (or reciprocate) the fraction after the division sign; essential you need to multiply by the reciprocal. step 3 : cancel or reduce the fractions.