Common Factors Year 6 Four Operations Learning Video Clip

Step 9: Common Factors Year 6 Four Operations Learning Video Clip

Renata and Buzz are travelling into space in order to carry out important research. They will need to be able to work out the common factors of numbers in order to complete their mission.

More resources for Autumn Block 2 Step 9.

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Discussion points for teachers

1. What are the common factors of these two space service numbers?
Discuss how to find the common factors of both numbers. Discuss how you know when you have found all the common factors. Discuss how to do it systematically.
1, 3 and 9

2. Which spaceships will visit which planets?
Discuss which numbers are factors of 28, 49 and 56. Discuss how you know when you have found all the factors of a number. Discuss how you could work systematically. Which planets will be visited by more than one spaceship? Will any planets be visited by all the spaceships?
Spaceship 28 will visit Planets 2, 4 and 7, Spaceship 49 will visit Planet 7, Spaceship 56 will visit Planets 2, 7 and 8.

3. What is the most space saving way to pack the items into the crates?
Discuss how to find the common factors of 112 and 144. Discuss what is meant by ‘an equal number of items in each crate’ and ‘space saving’ to establish that you need to find the largest common factor of the numbers.
16 items in each crate.

4. Who is correct?
Discuss the problem and the information needed i.e. you will need to find common factors of 72 and 108. Discuss who is correct. Are there any other possible answers i.e. any other common factors? Would these be better? This question is more open-ended for the children to explore.
Both numbers are common factors of 72 and 108, so both are possible. 24 light years per minute would be quicker but may use more fuel, 12 light years per minute would be slower but may conserve fuel. 36 is also a common factor so both answers may not be the best answer, depending on the maximum speed of the spaceship.

National Curriculum Objectives

Mathematics Year 6: (6C5) Identify common factors, common multiples and prime numbers

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