GCF and LCM of 2 and 12

The GCF of 2 and 12 is 2. The LCM of 2 and 12 is 12.

Method 1: list the factors (GCF)

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

Method 2: prime factorization

2 = 2 (prime)
12 = 2 × 2 × 3

GCF: multiply the prime factors both numbers share: 2 = 2.

LCM: multiply every prime the maximum number of times it appears in either number: 2 × 2 × 3 = 12.

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. 12 = 6 × 2 + 0

The last non-zero remainder is 2, so GCF(2, 12) = 2.

LCM by listing multiples

Multiples of 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ...
Multiples of 12: 12, 24, ...
The first number in both lists is 12.

Check: GCF × LCM = product

2 × 12 = 24 = 2 × 12. This always holds for two numbers, so you can find the LCM as (2 × 12) ÷ 2 = 12.

Simplifying the fraction 2/12

Divide the top and bottom by the GCF 2: 2/12 = 1/6.

GCF and LCM of similar pairs

NumbersGCFLCM
2 and 316
2 and 424
2 and 5110
2 and 626
2 and 7114
2 and 828
3 and 12312
4 and 12412
5 and 12160
6 and 12612
7 and 12184
8 and 12424

See also: factors of 2 · factors of 12 · 2/12 as a decimal.

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