How do you solve real word

problems using the Highest Common

Factor or Least Common Multiple?

Pierce swims every fourth day and

Joshua swims every third day. If
they both swim on the first of the
month, on what date will they both
swim together again?
In this lesson you will learn
when to use the HCF and
LCM to find solutions by
looking at real world
problems.
A Common Misunderstanding

Misreading the problem.

Misinterpreting the solution.

Core Lesson

Close Read the Problem

Pierce swims every fourth day and

Joshua swims every third day. If they
both swim on the first of the month,
on what date will they both swim
together again?
 Core Lesson Organize Information

Swims every Multiples

Pierce 4 days {4, 8, 12, 16, 20…}
Joshua 3 days {3, 6, 9, 12, 15…}

The LCM of 4 and 3 is 12.

answer
statement: The next time Pierce and Joshua swim
together will be on the 12th day of the month.
 Core Lesson When to look for the LCM
• to figure out when two or
more events will happen every three days and
again at the same time or every four days
on the same date
• to purchase or get multiple buns in packages of 12
items of two or more and hot dogs in
different things in order to packages of 8
have enough
• about something that is or every 4 inches and
will be happening over every 10 inches
and over
Core Lesson Close Read the Problem

Nhya has 16 girls and 12 boys in his class.

He helps his teacher by making groups
which have the same combination of girls
and boys. What is the largest number of
groups that can be made without leaving
anyone out?
 Core Lesson Organize Information

Class Factors

girls 16 { 1, 2, 4, 8, 16}
boys 12 { 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12}

The HCF of 16 and 12 is 4.

answer The largest amount of groups with the
statement: same combination of girls and boys
would be 4.
 Core Lesson When to look for the HCF

• to arrange two or more 16 girls and 12 boys

things in rows or groups

8 inch piece of string

• to divide things into
and 24 inch piece of
smaller sections
string

• figuring out how many

people can be invited or 20 gumballs and 45
receive something suckers
 In this lesson you have
learned when to use the HCF
and LCM to find solutions by
looking at real world
problems.