Universal Education
HCF AND LCM
GCD (Greatest Common Division or Highest Common Factor)
GCD or HCF is that highest number which divides the given numbers exactly.
For example, HCF of 2 and 4 is 2 that means 2 divides both the numbers exactly
Now we can see that it is smaller than LCM then also why it is known as Highest Common factor?
Suppose 15 and 45 are two numbers
Factors of 15 are 1, 3 , 5 , 15
Factors of 45 are 1, 3 , 5 , 9 , 15 ,45
Now common factors are 3 ,5 and 15 and highest of them is 15
Finally Highest common factor is 15.
Note: if in the question ‘which divides’ phrase comes then we need to calculate HCF.
LCM(Least Common Multiple)
LCM is that least number which is divided by the given numbers completely.
For example LCM of 2 and 4 is 4 that means 4 is divided by both the numbers completely
Now we can see that it is bigger than HCF then also why it is known as Least Common Multiple?
Suppose 15 and 45 are two numbers
Multiples of 15 are 15, 30 , 45 ,60, 75 , 90........
Multiples of 45 are 45, 90 , 135 , 180.........
Now common multiples are 45, 90 , 135..........and least of them is 45
Finally Least common Multiple is 45
Note: if in the question ‘is divisible by’ phrase comes then we need to calculate LCM .
HCF LCM
2 4 2 4
‘which divides ’ ‘is divided by’
2 4
FACTORS
A number which divides the number completely is a factor of that numbers
To Find HCF and LCM
There are two ways of calculating HCF and LCM
1. Find the HCF and LCM of 512, 160, 730
Solution:
Break the numbers into the multiplication of prime factors
Method 1 Method 1
For HCF For LCM
160 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 160 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 = 25 × 5
512 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 ×2 512 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2
×2=29
730 = 2 × 5 × 73
730 = 2 × 5 × 73 = 21 × 51 × 731
Since only 2 is common
LCM is the highest powers of all the prime
HCF is 2 factors
LCM= 29 × 51 × 731
Method 2 Method 2
For HCF For LCM
160)512(3 32)730(22 2 160,512,730
2 80,256,365
480 64 2 40,128,364
2 20,64,365
32)160(5 90 2 10,32,365
5 5,16,365
160 64 1,16,73
26)32(1
When remainder
becomes zero the LCM = 29 × 51 × 731
divisor is the
26
common
factor .Here 32 is 6)26(4
common factor of
160 and 512.Now 24
check for the
common factor of
2)6(3
160,512 and 730
2 is HCF of all 160,512 and 730
LCM × HCF = product of numbers
2. The LCM of two numbers is 2079 and HCF is 27.If one of the number is 189. Find the other number.
Solution:
Since we know that
LCM × HCF = product of numbers
LCM is 2079
HCF is 27
One number is 189
Putting these values in the above relation
2079 × 27 = 189 × 2nd number
2nd number =297
3. The sum of 2 numbers is 216 and their HCF is 27. The numbers are:-
Solution:
According to the question
Sum of two numbers is 216
_________ + __________ = 216
HCF is 27
And we know that HCF of two numbers is present in both the number
So we can write the two numbers as 27a and 27b
Therefore
27a + 27b = 216
On solving
a+b=8
Possible values of a and b such that sum is 8 are (1,7),(2,6),(3,5),(4,4)
But here we will only consider co-prime numbers because if we consider (2,6) the HCF will no longer be 27 it will become
27 × 2 {Co-prime numbers are those numbers whose HCF is 1}
So we will consider only (1,7) and (3,5)
Therefore the required numbers are (27 × 1, 27 × 7) and (27 × 3, 27 × 5)
LCM of numerator
LCM of 2 or more fractions = HCF of denomenators
HCF of numerators
HCF of 2 or more fractions = LCM of denomenators
4 8 2 6
4. Find the HCF of , , ,
5 35 15 25
Solution:
HCF of numerators
HCF of two or more fractions =
LCM of denomenators
HCF (4 , 8 ,2 , 6) 2
= =
LCM (5 , 35 ,15 ,25) 525
1 1
5. Find the LCM of 4 , 3 ,10
2 2
Solution: 9/2,3,21/2
LCM of numerator
LCM of 2 or more fractions =
HCF of denomenators
LCM (9 , 3 , 21)
= = 63/1
HCF (2 ,1 , 2)
7 35
6. Find the greatest length that is contained in exact no. of times in and .
2 4
Solution: We have to find the greatest length that is contained in exact no. of times in both the given fractions and that is
highest common factor
HCF (7 , 35) 7
HCF = =¿
LCM (2 , 4) 4
HCF and LCM of decimals
7. The HCF of 0.3, 0.15, 0.225, 0.0003 is
Solution :
We have two ways to find HCF of decimal numbers
0.3, 0.15, 0.225, 0.0003
1. Take the number having highest number of digits after decimal. So we select 0.0003
2. now convert this to integer this can be done by multiplying 0.0003 with 10000.
Also, when we are changing one number for balancing we have to do the same with other numbers also.
0.3 0.15 0.225 0.0003
0.3 × 10000 0.15 × 10000 0.225 × 10000 0.0003 × 10000
3000 1500 2250 3
3. Now find the HCF of these numbers.
HCF = 3
4. Since we have multiplied it by 10000. Now divide the answer by 10000.
3
HCF = = 0.0003
10000
OR
Convert all the decimals into fractions
3
0.3 =
10
15
0.15 =
100
225
0.225 =
1000
3
0.0003 =
10000
LCM of numerator
LCM of 2 or more fractions =
HCF of denomenators
HCF of numerators
HCF of 2 or more fractions =
LCM of denomenators
HCF (3 , 15 , 225 ,3)
=
LCM (10 , 100 ,1000 ,10000)
3
= = 0.0003
10000
8. Find the greatest possible length which can be used to measure exactly the lengths 4 m 95 cm , 9 m & 16 m 65 cm.
Solution:
Converting lengths 4 m 95 cm, 9 m & 16 m 65 cm into same unit we get 495 cm, 900 cm, 1665 cm
We have to find the greatest possible length that will exactly measure these lengths and that is highest common factor
Ans. 45
9. What is the smallest number which is exactly divisible by 60,15,14,35
Solution:
As, in the start we have noted that whenever there is ‘is divisible by’ given in the question, it is denoting LCM
Here also we have to fond LCM of 60,15,14,35
2 60 ,15 ,14 ,35
3 30, 15, 7, 35
5 10, 5, 7, 35
7 2, 1, 7, 7
2, 1, 1, 1
LCM = 2×3×5×7×2 = 420
10. Two equilateral triangles have the sides of lengths 34 & 85 respectively
1) Find greatest length of tape than can measure both of them exactly.
2) How many such equal parts can be measured
Solution:
1) we have to find greatest length of tape that can measure both of the lengths exactly
A factor is a number that divides the given number exactly.
And we have to find the greatest length that means we have to calculate HCF
Therefore, HCF of 34 and 85 is 17
17 is the length of the tape to measure both the lengths
34
2) Number of parts in which length 34 will be measured = =2
17
85
Number of parts in which length 85 will be measured = = 5
17
Total number of parts = 2 + 5 =7
11. Find the least no. when divided by 12, 15, 20 and 54 leaves remainder 8 in each case.
‘which divides’ find HCF
‘which is divided by’ find LCM
LCM of 12, 15, 20, 54 2 12, 15, 20, 54
2 06, 15, 10, 27
3 03, 15, 05, 27
01, 05, 05, 09
12 = 2 x 2 x 3
15 = 3 x 5
20 = 2 x 2 x 5
54 = 2 x 3 x 3
LCM = 22 x 33 x 5 = 540.
540 is that number which is exactly divisible by 12, 15, 20, 54 by according to the question, number should leave
remainder 8 . so the actual number will be 540 + 8= 548.
12. The ratio of two numbers is 3:4 and their HCF is 4. The LCM is = ?
Solution:
x 3
It is given =
y 4
Also HCF is given as 4
Now let us first understand the concept behind this question
Take any two numbers 15 and 45
Now take ratio of them
15
45
Now simplify this ratio by cancelling it with 3 we get
5
15
It is visible that still further simplification is possible. Cancel it with 5 now,we get
1
3
We may notice that first we cancelled with 3 then 5 it means if we directly cancel it with 3 × 5 = 15 we will get the answer
and this 15 is nothing but the HCF
Now in this question we will go in reverse order
Since ratio is 3 : 4,numbers are 3 ×4 and 4 × 4 i.e. 12 and 16
Now we can easily find the LCM of these two numbers
LCM is 48
14. Find the greatest numbers which on dividing 518 and 168 leaves remainders 6 and 8 respectively.
Solution:
‘on dividing’ or ‘divides’ means we have to calculate HCF
According to the question HCF divides 518 and 168 and leaves remainders 6 and 8 respectively
It means, HCF will divide 518 – 6 = 512 and 168 – 8 = 160 completely
So we will calculate HCF of 512 and 160
160)512(3
480
32)160(5
160
HCF is 32
15. Find the largest number of four digits exactly divisible by 12,15,18,27.
Solution: Normally the largest 4-digit number is 9999.
We have to find to find the largest four digit number which should be divisible by 12,15,18 and 27.
So let us first find the lowest common multiple of 12,15,18,27 i.e. 540.
Now divide 9999 with 540 we get 279 as the remainder.
So if we subtract 279 from 9999 we will get the largest 4-digit number which is exactly divisible by 12,15,18 and 27.
Answer is 9999 – 279 = 9720
