GCF and LCM of 12 and 45

The GCF of 12 and 45 is 3. The LCM of 12 and 45 is 180.

Method 1: list the factors (GCF)

Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.
Factors of 45: 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 45.
Common factors: 1 and 3. The greatest of these is 3.

Method 2: prime factorization

12 = 2 × 2 × 3
45 = 3 × 3 × 5

GCF: multiply the prime factors both numbers share: 3 = 3.

LCM: multiply every prime the maximum number of times it appears in either number: 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5 = 180.

Method 3: Euclidean algorithm (GCF)

Divide the larger number by the smaller and repeat with the remainder until it is 0. The last non-zero remainder is the GCF.

  1. 45 = 3 × 12 + 9
  2. 12 = 1 × 9 + 3
  3. 9 = 3 × 3 + 0

The last non-zero remainder is 3, so GCF(12, 45) = 3.

LCM by listing multiples

Multiples of 12: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, ...
Multiples of 45: 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, ...
The first number in both lists is 180.

Check: GCF × LCM = product

3 × 180 = 540 = 12 × 45. This always holds for two numbers, so you can find the LCM as (12 × 45) ÷ 3 = 180.

Simplifying the fraction 12/45

Divide the top and bottom by the GCF 3: 12/45 = 4/15.

GCF and LCM of similar pairs

NumbersGCFLCM
2 and 12212
3 and 12312
4 and 12412
5 and 12160
6 and 12612
7 and 12184
2 and 45190
3 and 45345
4 and 451180
5 and 45545
6 and 45390
7 and 451315

See also: factors of 12 · factors of 45.

Different numbers? Use the GCF and LCM calculator (any amount of numbers) or browse all GCF and LCM pairs.