What approach should Bobby take to maximize the number of gumballs he can distribute equally among his friends?

Choosing to find the factors of the total number of gumballs is the most effective approach for Bobby to maximize distribution among his friends. By identifying the factors, Bobby can determine how many friends he can distribute the gumballs to while ensuring that each friend receives an equal amount. For instance, if he has a total of 42 gumballs, the factors would include numbers like 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, and 21. This allows him to distribute the gumballs evenly among groups of different sizes, enabling him to explore multiple options for equitable sharing.

In contrast, calculating the quotient when dividing the total number of gumballs by 7 focuses on a specific number of friends (seven). While this does give an answer, it limits his ability to consider other combinations of distribution that might allow for a larger number of friends receiving gumballs based on the total.

Choosing any number less than 51 does not provide a systematic way to find how many gumballs can be shared equally. This approach could lead to arbitrary choices that do not necessarily maximize distribution.

Subtraction of the number of friends from the total gumballs also does not ensure equal distribution. Instead, it