What is the greatest common factor (GCF) of 12 and 16?

To determine the greatest common factor (GCF) of 12 and 16, we begin by identifying the factors of each number.

The factors of 12 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.

The factors of 16 are: 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16.

Next, we identify the common factors by finding the numbers that appear in both lists. The common factors of 12 and 16 are 1, 2, and 4. Among these common factors, the greatest one is 4.

Therefore, the GCF of 12 and 16 is 4, making it the largest number that divides both 12 and 16 without leaving a remainder. This is why the correct answer is 4. Understanding how to break down numbers into their factors is crucial for finding the GCF, and recognizing that it's the highest of the shared factors solidifies the concept.