[math-fun] gcF??

Perhaps because they're taught factorization rather than Euclid's algorithm, gradeschoolers are now being forced to say gcf ("greatest common factor") instead of gcd. Or maybe just to make it sound easier. So I asked a kid: 12 contains how many factors of 3? And how many factors of 2? And how many factors of 1? "Tell your teacher 1 can't be a factor of anything. 2 and 3 have no greatest common factor." "I'll get in trouble." A lot of stuff we're taught is oversimplified. We have to unlearn it and relearn it later. But this is ridiculous. Is there some way we funsters can gang up against this idiocy? --rwg They're also taught that improper fractions are not in lowest terms.