2. H.C.F. AND L.C.M.

OF NUMBERS
IMPORTANT FACTS AND FORMULA E
I. Factors and Multil!s " If a number a divides another number b exactly, we say that a
is a factor of b. In this case, b is called a multiple of a.
II. Hi#$!st Co%%on Factor &H.C.F.' or (r!at!st Co%%on M!asur! &(.C.M.' or
(r!at!st Co%%on Di)isor &(.C.D.'" The H.C.F. of two or more than two numbers is
the greatest number that divides each of them exactly.
There are two methods of finding the H.C.F. of a given set of numbers
*. Factori+ation M!t$od " Express each one of the given numbers as the product
of prime factors.The product of least powers of common prime factors gives H.C.F.
2. Di)ision M!t$od" !uppose we have to find the H.C.F. of two given numbers.
"ivide the larger number by the smaller one. #ow, divide the divisor by the
remainder. $epeat the process of dividing the preceding number by the remainder
last obtained till %ero is obtained as remainder. The last divisor is the re&uired
H.C.F.
Findin# t$! H.C.F. o, %or! t$an t-o nu%.!rs " !uppose we have to find the
H.C.F. of three numbers. Then, H.C.F. of '(H.C.F. of any two) and (the third
number)* gives the H.C.F. of three given numbers.
!imilarly, the H.C.F. of more than three numbers may be obtained.
III. L!ast Co%%on Multil! &L.C.M.' " The least number which is exactly divisible by
each one of the given numbers is called their +.C.,.
*. Factori+ation M!t$od o, Findin# L.C.M." $esolve each one of the given
numbers into a product of prime factors. Then, +.C.,. is the product of highest
powers of all the factors,
2. Co%%on Di)ision M!t$od /S$ort0cut M!t$od' o, Findin# L.C.M."
-rrange the given numbers in a row in any order. "ivide by a number which
divides exactly at least two of the given numbers and carry forward the numbers
which are not divisible. $epeat the above process till no two of the numbers are
divisible by the same number except .. The product of the divisors and the
undivided numbers is the re&uired +.C.,. of the given numbers,
I1. Product o, t-o nu%.!rs 2Product o, t$!ir H.C.F. and L.C.M.
1. Co0ri%!s" Two numbers are said to be co/primes if their H.C.F. is ..
1I. H.C.F. and L.C.M. o, Fractions"
..H C F0 H.C.F. of #umerators 1.+ C , 0 +.C., of #umerators22
+.C.,. of "enominators H.C.F. of "enominators
1II. H.C.F. and L.C.M. o, D!ci%al Fractions" In given numbers, ma3e the same
number of decimal places by annexing %eros in some numbers, if necessary. Considering
these numbers without decimal point, find H.C.F. or +.C.,. as the case may be. #ow, in
the result, mar3 off as many decimal places as are there in each of the given numbers.
1III. Co%arison o, Fractions" Find the +.C.,. of the denominators of the given
fractions. Convert each of the fractions into an e&uivalent fraction with +.C.,. as the
denominator, by multiplying both the numerator and denominator by the same number.
The resultant fraction with the greatest numerator is the greatest.
SOL1ED E3AMPLES
E4. *. Find t$! H.C.F. o, 2
5
3 5
2
3 6 3 7
8
9 2
2
3 5
6
3 6
2
3 7
5
92
5
3

6
5
3

7
2

Sol. The prime numbers common to given numbers are 1,4 and 5.
H.C.F. 0 1
1
x 4 x5
1
0 678.
E4. 2. Find t$! H.C.F. o, *:;9 2;; and 5<:.
Sol. .87 0 1
1
x 9
9
, 177 0 1
4
x 9
1
and 9:8 0 1
9
x 4 x 9
1
.
H.C.F. 0 1
1
x 9
1
0 9:.
E4. 5. Find t$! H.C.F. o, 6*59 **58 and *2*6.
Sol.
1134 ) 1215 ( 1
1134
81 ) 1134 ( 14
81
324
324
x
H.C.F. of ..9; and .1.4 is 7..
!o, $e&uired H.C.F. 0 H.C.F. of 4.9 and 7..
222222
7. ) 4.9 ( :
22;7:2222
15) 7. ( 9
7.
0
H.C.F. of given numbers 0 15.
E4. 8. R!duc! 5=* to lo-!st t!r%s .
<<7
to lo-!st t!r%s.
Sol. H.C.F. of 96. and ::5 is 19.
<n dividing the numerator and denominator by 19, we get
96. 0 96. 19 0 .5
667 667 19 16
E4.6.Find t$! L.C.M. o, 2
2
4 5
5
4 6 4 7
2 9
2
5
4 5
2
4 6
2
4 7
8
9 2 4 5 4 6
5 4 7 4 **.

Sol. +.C.,. 0 =roduct of highest powers of 1, 9, 4, 5 and .. 0 1
9
x 9
9
x 4
9
x 5
;
x ..
E4.<. Find t$! L.C.M. o, 729 *:; and 2*::.
Sol. 51 0 1
9
x 9
1
, .87 0 9
9
x 1
1
, 1.88 0 1
1
x 4
1
x 9 x 5.
+.C.,. 0 1
9
x 9
9
x 4
1
x 5 0 95788.
E4.7.Find t$! L.C.M. o, *<9 289 5< and 68.
Sol.
1 .: / 1; / 9: / 4;
1 7 / .1 / .7 / 15
1 ; / : / 6 / 15
9 1 / 9 / 6 / 15
9 1 / . / 9 / 6
1 / . / . / 9
+.C.,. 0 1 x 1 x 1 x 9 x 9 x 1 x 9 0 ;91.
E4. ;. Find t$! H.C.F. and L.C.M. o, 2 9 ; 9 *< and *:.
5 = ;* 27
Sol. H.C.F. of given fractions 0 H.C.F. of 1,7,.:,.8 0 12
+.C.,. of 9,6,7.,15 7.
+.C., of given fractions 0 +.C.,. of 1,7,.:,.8 0 782
H.C.F. of 9,6,7.,15 9
E4. =. Find t$! H.C.F. and L.C.M. o, :.<59 *.:6 and 2.*.
Sol. ,a3ing the same number of decimal places, the given numbers are 8.:9, ..84 and
1..8.
>ithout decimal places, these numbers are :9, .84 and 1.8.
#ow, H.C.F. of :9, .84 and 1.8 is 1..
H.C.F. of 8.:9, ..84 and 1.. is 8.1..
+.C.,. of :9, .84 and 1.8 is :98.
+.C.,. of 8.:9, ..84 and 1.. is :.98.
E4. *:. T-o nu%.!rs ar! in t$! ratio o, *6"**. I, t$!ir H.C.F. is *59 ,ind t$!
nu%.!rs.
Sol. +et the re&uired numbers be .4.x and llx.
Then, their H.C.F. is x. !o, x 0 .9.
The numbers are (.4 x .9 and .. x .9) i.e., .64 and .;9.
E4. **. T$!H.C.F. o, t-o nu%.!rs is ** and t$!ir L.C.M. is <=5. I, on! o, t$!
nu%.!rs is 779,ind t$! ot$!r.
Sol. <ther number 0 .. ? :69 0 66
55

E4. *2. Find t$! #r!at!st ossi.l! l!n#t$ -$ic$ can .! us!d to %!asur! !4actl> t$!
l!n#t$s 8 % =6 c%9 = % and *< % <6 c%.
Sol. $e&uired length 0 H.C.F. of ;64 cm, 688 cm and .::4 cm.
;64 0 9
1
x 4 x .., 688 0 1
1
x 9
1
x 4
1
, .::4 0 9
1
x 4 x 95.
H.C.F. 0 91 x 4 0 ;4.
Hence, re&uired length 0 ;4 cm.
E4. *5. Find t$! #r!at!st nu%.!r -$ic$ on di)idin# *<67 and 2:57 l!a)!s
r!%aind!rs < and 6 r!s!cti)!l>.
Sol. $e&uired number 0 H.C.F. of (.:45 / :) and (1895 / 4) 0 H.C.F. of .:4. and 1891
2222222
.:4. ) 1891 ( . .:4.
.:4.2222222
97. ) .:4. ( ;
.41; 222222222
.15 ) 97. ( 9
97.
8
$e&uired number 0 .15.
E4. *8. Find t$! lar#!st nu%.!r -$ic$ di)id!s <29 *52 and 257 to l!a)! t$! sa%!
r!%aind!r in !ac$ cas!.
Sol . $e&uired number 0 H.C.F. of (.91 / :1), (195 / .91) and (195 / :1)
0 H.C.F. of 58, .84 and .54 0 94.
E4.*6.Find t$! l!ast nu%.!r !4actl> di)isi.l! .> *29*692:927.
Sol.

3 .1 / .4 / 18 / 15
; 4 / 4 / 18 / 6
4 1 / 4 / 4 / 6
. / . / . / 6
E4.*<.Find t$! l!ast nu%.!r -$ic$ -$!n di)id!d .> <979;9=9 and *2 l!a)! t$! sa%!
r!%aind!r * !ac$ cas!
Sol. $e&uired number 0 (+.C., <F :,5,7,6,.1) @ .
3 6 / 5 / 7 / 6 / .1
; 2 / 5 / 7 / 9 / ;
4 1 / 5 / ; / 9 / 1
. / 5 / 1 / 9 / .
+.C., 0 9 ? 1 ? 1 ? 5 ? 1 ? 9 0 48;.
Hence re&uired number 0 (48; @.) 0 484.
E4.*7. Find t$! lar#!st nu%.!r o, ,our di#its !4actl> di)isi.l! .> *29*69*; and 27.
Sol. The +argest number of four digits is 6666.
$e&uired number must be divisible by +.C.,. of .1,.4,.7,15 i.e. 4;8.
<n dividing 6666 by 4;8,we get 156 as remainder .
$e&uired number 0 (6666/156) 0 6518.
E4.*;.Find t$! s%all!st nu%.!r o, ,i)! di#its !4actl> di)isi.l! .> *<92895< and 68.
Sol. !mallest number of five digits is .8888.
$e&uired number must be divisible by +.C.,. of .:,1;,9:,4; i.e ;91,
<n dividing .8888 by ;91,we get :; as remainder.
$e&uired number 0 .8888 @( ;91 A :; ) 0 .89:7.
E4.*=.Find t$! l!ast nu%.!r -$ic$ -$!n di)id!d .> 2:926956 and 8: l!a)!s
r!%aind!rs *89*=92= and 58 r!s!cti)!l>.
Sol. Here,(18/.;) 0 :,(14 A .6)0:,(94/16)0: and (;8/9;)0:.
$e&uired number 0 (+.C.,. of 18,14,94,;8) A : 0.96;.
E4.2:.Find t$! l!ast nu%.!r -$ic$ -$!n di)id!d .> 69<979 and ; l!a)!s a r!%aind!r
59 .ut -$!n di)id!d .> = l!a)!s no r!%aind!r .
Sol. +.C.,. of 4,:,5,7 0 7;8.
$e&uired number is of the form 7;83 @ 9
+east value of 3 for which (7;83 @ 9) is divisible by 6 is 3 0 1.
$e&uired number 0 (7;8 ? 1 @ 9)0.:79
E4.2*.T$! tra,,ic li#$ts at t$r!! di,,!r!nt road crossin#s c$an#! a,t!r !)!r> 8; s!c.9
72 s!c and *:; s!c.r!s!cti)!l> .I, t$!> all c$an#! si%ultan!ousl> at ;"2:"::
$ours9t$!n at -$at ti%! t$!> a#ain c$an#! si%ultan!ousl> .
Sol. Interval of change 0 (+.C., of ;7,51,.87)sec.0;91sec.
!o, the lights will agin change simultaneously after every ;91 seconds i.e,5
min..1sec
Hence , next simultaneous change will ta3e place at 715.1 hrs.
E4.22.Arran#! t$! ,ractions *7 9 5*9 859 6= in t$! asc!ndin# ord!r.
*; 5< 86 <:
Sol.+.C.,. of .7,9:,;4 and :8 0 .78.
#ow, .5 0 .5 ? .8 0 .58 B 9. 0 9. ? 4 0 .44 B
.7 .7 ? .8 .78 9: 9: ? 4 .78
;9 0 ;9 ? ; 0 .51 B 46 0 46 ? 9 0 .55 B
;4 ;4 ? ; .78 :8 :8 ? 9 .78
!ince, .44C.58C.51C.55, so, .44 C .58 C .51 C .55
.78 .78 .78 .78
Hence, 9. C .5 C ;9 C 46
9: .7 ;4 :8