Find the GCF for the following list.

To find the GCF (Greatest Common Factor) of 28, 12, and 40, we first look at the factors of each number. The factors of 28 are 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, and 28; the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12; and the factors of 40 are 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, and 40. The common factors among these three numbers are 1, 2, and 4, with 4 being the greatest.

So, the GCF of 28, 12, and 40 is 4.

For a fun fact, did you know that the method of finding GCF is as ancient as mathematics itself? The Greeks, particularly Euclid, devised a systematic way to calculate it thousands of years ago, which is still relevant today!

In real-life applications, understanding GCF can save you time and resources, especially when dividing things into smaller, or equal parts. For instance, if you want to evenly distribute 28, 12, and 40 oranges among friends, using the GCF helps you find out how many friends can receive the same number without any leftovers!