Math question - help on my 5th grader's homework!

[jennz]

Okay so here's the problem...the GCF (greatest common factor) of two numbers is 871. Both numbers are even and neither is divisible by the other. What is the smallest that these two numbers could be?

Answer...I get No Answer. Here's why: to make the number even you have to multiply by an even number. So if I use 871*4 and 871*6 so that the numbers are not divisible by each other then oops! 871 isn't my GCF anymore - my new GCF is 871*2.

Am I missing something? Is my 10 year old? Help us Disers!!!

 

[npmommie]

both numbers can't be even because that would mean the GCF is even and it isn't so there is no answer.

 

[jennz]

Thanks! I've been trying to figure this out for an hour! I thought I was missing something, even when dd said it was probably a trick question.