GCF and LCM of 3 and 6

The GCF of 3 and 6 is 3. The LCM of 3 and 6 is 6.

Method 1: list the factors (GCF)

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

Method 2: prime factorization

3 = 3 (prime)
6 = 2 × 3

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 × 3 = 6.

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. 6 = 2 × 3 + 0

The last non-zero remainder is 3, so GCF(3, 6) = 3.

LCM by listing multiples

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

Check: GCF × LCM = product

3 × 6 = 18 = 3 × 6. This always holds for two numbers, so you can find the LCM as (3 × 6) ÷ 3 = 6.

Simplifying the fraction 3/6

Divide the top and bottom by the GCF 3: 3/6 = 1/2.

GCF and LCM of similar pairs

NumbersGCFLCM
2 and 316
3 and 4112
3 and 5115
3 and 7121
3 and 8124
3 and 939
2 and 626
4 and 6212
5 and 6130
6 and 7142
6 and 8224
6 and 9318

See also: factors of 3 · factors of 6 · 3/6 as a decimal.

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