Gfc of 12a^4 and 16a^2

GCF is 4a^2

First find the GCF of whole numbers 16 and 12

16: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16

12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

Gcf of 16 and 12 is 4

Now a^2 and a^4

Just look at the exponents

The highest you can take out of both of them is a^2

Now put the 4 and a^2 together

Answer is 4a^2