GCF and LCM of 3 and 4

The GCF of 3 and 4 is 1. The LCM of 3 and 4 is 12.

• GCF (greatest common factor, also called GCD or HCF) of 3 and 4 = 1
• LCM (least common multiple) of 3 and 4 = 12

3 and 4 share no common factor except 1, so they are coprime (relatively prime). When two numbers are coprime their LCM is simply their product: 3 × 4 = 12.

Method 1: list the factors (GCF)

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

Method 2: prime factorization

3 = 3 (prime)
4 = 2 × 2

GCF: multiply the prime factors both numbers share: there are none, so the GCF is 1.

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. 4 = 1 × 3 + 1
2. 3 = 3 × 1 + 0

The last non-zero remainder is 1, so GCF(3, 4) = 1.

LCM by listing multiples

Multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ...
Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, ...
The first number in both lists is 12.

Check: GCF × LCM = product

1 × 12 = 12 = 3 × 4. This always holds for two numbers, so you can find the LCM as (3 × 4) ÷ 1 = 12.

Simplifying the fraction 3/4

3/4 is already in lowest terms because the GCF of 3 and 4 is 1.

GCF and LCM of similar pairs

See also: factors of 3 · factors of 4 · 3/4 as a decimal.

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