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common factor

common factor

1 2.7
A number that divides two or more numbers exactly
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːmən ˈfæktər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : factor común
  • The literature indicates that effort and participation are common factors in grading in physical education (Hensley et al., 1989; Imwold et al., 1982).
  • common factors between the two

That was the greatest common factor of both terms.

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Examples

  • The magnitude of these item-total correlations suggests the presence of a single common factor.

    Academic text (1990)
  • I recognize and agree that it is a common factor among people who hold fundamentalist Christian beliefs.

    Blog text (13)
  • That was the greatest common factor of both terms.

  • The common factor in successful programs for adults is group instruction.

    Academic text (2001)
  • A common factor in the two addresses could be the perennial institution of the civil service.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The presence of such common factors may prevent us from isolating the true effects.

    Academic text (2016)
  • One common factor between the two disciplines was the creative representation of the programmatic concept.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Although the driving forces and the output signals may differ from one example to another, noise is a common factor that enhances system performance in all cases.

    Academic text (2012)
  • In short, simplicity characterized al-Ani's early plays, a common factor in the comic sketches and social plays.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The greatest common factor of 12 and 18 is 6, since 6 divides both numbers evenly.

Synonyms

common measure
vscommon factor
  • Specialized
5.2

A number that divides two or more numbers exactly with no remainder

is the same concept but expressed with slightly different wording
common divisor
vscommon factor
  • Specialized
3.9

A number that divides two or more whole numbers leaving nothing left

is broader applying to other numbers not limited to integers

Surface Forms

common factor singular

Morphology

common + factor

The meaning 'a number that divides two or more other numbers exactly' is directly derivable from combining 'common' (shared) with 'factor' (a number that divides). This compositional, literal relationship is straightforward and mirrored in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Common factor The noun common factor comes from two simple ideas: a factor is a number you can multiply to make another number, and common means it is 'shared' by two or more numbers. So a common factor is a number both numbers have, which is why we use it to 'divide' or make fractions simpler.