Which of the following numbers is a factor of both 36 and 60?

To determine which number is a factor of both 36 and 60, we need to find the factors of each number and identify a common factor.

Starting with 36, its factors are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36

Now, for 60, its factors include: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60

When we compare the factors of both numbers, we can see that 12 appears in both lists. This means that 12 divides both 36 and 60 without leaving a remainder, confirming that it is indeed a common factor.

To solidify this, we can verify the division:

• For 36: ( 36 \div 12 = 3 )
• For 60: ( 60 \div 12 = 5 )

Since both results are whole numbers, we confirm that 12 is a factor of both 36 and 60. Thus, it is the correct choice for this question.