To find the greatest common factor (GCF) of 16 and 36, we follow these steps:

1. **Prime factorization of 16**:
   - \( 16 = 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 = 2^4 \)

2. **Prime factorization of 36**:
   - \( 36 = 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3 = 2^2 \times 3^2 \)

3. **Identify common factors**:
   - The common prime factor between 16 and 36 is \( 2 \), and the lowest power of \( 2 \) common to both factorizations is \( 2^2 \).

4. **Multiply the common factors**:
   - \( 2^2 = 4 \)

Thus, the GCF of 16 and 36 is **4**.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are some related questions:

1. What is the GCF of 16 and 24?
2. How is the least common multiple (LCM) of two numbers related to their GCF?
3. Can you find the GCF of 36 and 48?
4. What is the prime factorization of 48?
5. How do you find the GCF of three numbers?

**Tip**: To quickly find the GCF, always start with the prime factorization of both numbers and focus on their common factors.

Learn how to find the greatest common factor (GCF) of 16 and 36 using prime factorization. This detailed step-by-step solution covers key concepts in number theory and is suitable for students in Grades 5-7.

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