GCF and LCM of 3 and 9

The GCF of 3 and 9 is 3. The LCM of 3 and 9 is 9.

Method 1: list the factors (GCF)

Factors of 3: 1, 3.
Factors of 9: 1, 3, 9.
Common factors: 1 and 3. The greatest of these is 3.

Method 2: prime factorization

3 = 3 (prime)
9 = 3 × 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: 3 × 3 = 9.

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. 9 = 3 × 3 + 0

The last non-zero remainder is 3, so GCF(3, 9) = 3.

LCM by listing multiples

Multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, ...
Multiples of 9: 9, 18, ...
The first number in both lists is 9.

Check: GCF × LCM = product

3 × 9 = 27 = 3 × 9. This always holds for two numbers, so you can find the LCM as (3 × 9) ÷ 3 = 9.

Simplifying the fraction 3/9

Divide the top and bottom by the GCF 3: 3/9 = 1/3.

GCF and LCM of similar pairs

NumbersGCFLCM
2 and 316
3 and 4112
3 and 5115
3 and 636
3 and 7121
3 and 8124
2 and 9118
4 and 9136
5 and 9145
6 and 9318
7 and 9163
8 and 9172

See also: factors of 3 · factors of 9 · 3/9 as a decimal.

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