How do you find the GCF and LCM of 36, 40, and 45 using prime factorization?

36 = 2*2*3*3

40 = 2*2*2*5

45 = 3*3*5

There are no similar factors for all three. So the GCF is 1.

36 = 2^2 * 3^2

40 = 2^3 * 5

45 = 3^2 * 5

LCM is the product of the largest ammount of each prime that appears at least once.

2^3 * 3^2 * 5 = 8 * 9 * 5 = 360