Government of Tamilnadu

Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group II Exam

Subject : Aptitude and Mental Ability
Topic : LCM & HCF

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 LCM AND HCF

Least Common Multiple (LCM) and Highest Common Factor (HCF) :

HCF divides the numbers and numbers divides the LCM

 L.C.M x H.C.F = product of the two numbers.

 L.C.M is always multiple of H.C.F.

S.no Question Approach

I Find the least number, which is exactly LCM (x, y, z)

divisible by x, y, z.
II Find the least number, which when LCM (x, y, z) + r
divided by x, y, z leaves a remainder 'r'
in each case.
III Find the least number, which when Observe, if (x - a) – (y – b) – (z – c) =k (say).
divided by x, y, z leaves remainders a, Then LCM (x, y, z) - k
b, c respectively. Else, go with the options.

IV Find the greatest number, that will HCF (x, y, z)

exactly divide x, y, z

V Find the greatest number, that will divide HCF (x - a, y - b, z - c)

x, y, z leaving remainders a, b, c
respectively.

VI Find the greatest number, that will divide HCF (x - y, y - z, z - x)

x, y, z leaving the same remainder in
each case.

1. Highest Common Factor (HCF):

If two or more numbers are broken into their prime factors, then the product of the
maximum common prime factors in the given numbers is the H.C.F. of the numbers.

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 LCM AND HCF

In other words, the HCF of two or more numbers is the greatest number (divisor) that
divides all the given numbers exactly. So, HCF is also called the Greatest Common Divisor
(GCD).

Example: Find the HCF of 72, 60, 96.

Here, we first find the prime factors of each given number.

Here 72 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3
60 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5
96 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3

and so HCF = product of maximum common prime factors = 2 x 2 x 3 = 12

Note: The common factors in the given numbers have been encircled.

2. Product of Two numbers:

HCF of numbers x LCM of numbers = Product of numbers
i.e., if the numbers are A and B, then
HCF of A and B x LCM of A and B = A x B

3. Difference Between HCF and LCM:

HCF of x, y and z LCM of x, y and z

is the Highest Divisor which can is the Least Dividend which is exactly
exactly divide x, y and z divisible by x, y and z.

TABLE: RAPID INFORMATION LIST

Ref Type of Problem Approach to Problem
1. Find the GREATEST NUMBER that will Required number HCF of x, y and z
exactly divide x, y and z. (greatest divisor)
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 LCM AND HCF

2. Find the GREATEST NUMBER that will Required number (greatest divisor)
divide, x, y and z leaving remainders a, b = HCF of (x - a), (y - b) and (z - c)
and c respectively
3. Find the LEAST NUMBER which is Required number = LCM of x, y and z
exactly divisible by x, y and z (least dividend)
4. Find the LEAST NUMBER which when Then, it is always observed that
divided by x, y and z leaves remainders (x - a) = (y - b) = (z - c) = K (say).
a, b and c respectively
Required number
= (LCM of x, y and z) + (K)
5. Find the LEAST NUMBER when divided Required number = (LCM of x, y and z)
by x, y and z leaves the same remainder + r
‘r’ each case
6. Find the GREATEST NUMBER that will Required number
divide x, y and z leaving the same = (HCF of (x - y), (y - z) and (z - x)
remainder in each case.
7. Find the n-digit GREATEST NUMBER LCM of x, y and z = L
that will exactly divide x, y and z (Step 1)
(a) leaves on remainder (i.e., exactly L (Step 2)
divisible)
By Rule I (Chapter I),
(b) leaves remainder K in each case.
(a) Required number =
n-digit greatest number – R
(b) Required number =
[n-digit greatest number – R] + K
8. Find the n-digit SMALLEST NUMBER LCM of x, y and z = L
which when divided by x, y and z. (Step 1)
(a) leaves no remainder (i.e., exactly L (Step 2)
divisible)
By Rule II (Chapter I),
(b) leaves remainder K in each case.
(a) Required number =

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 LCM AND HCF

n-digit smallest number + (L – R)

(b) Required number =
[n-digit smallest number + (L – R) + K
8. Find the HCF of and HCF of fractions =

9. Find the LCM of and LCM of fractions =

10. Find the HCF of decimal numbers Step 1: Find the HCF of the given
numbers without decimal.
Step 2: Put the decimal point (in the
HCF of Step 1) from right to left
according to the MAXIMUM decimal
places among the given numbers.
11. Find the LCM of decimal numbers Step 1: Find the LCM of the given
numbers without decimal.
Step 2: Put the decimal point (in the
LCM of Step 1) from right to left at the
place equal to the MINIMUM decimal
places among the given numbers.

2. LCM (Lowest Common Multiple):

The LCM of two or more than two numbers is the product of the highest powers of all the
prime factors that occur in these numbers.
Example: Find the LCM of 36, 48, 64 and 72

LCM = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 4 = 576

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 LCM AND HCF

EXAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1. Find the greatest number that will exactly divide 200 and 320.

Solution:
Using the approach 1.
Required number = HCF of 200 and 320 = 40.
2. Find the greatest number that will divide 148, 246 and 623 leaving remainders 4, 6 and 11
respectively.

Solution:
Using the approach 2.
Required number = HCF of (148 – 4), (246 – 6) and (623 – 11) i.e. HCF of 144, 240, 612 is
12.

3. Find the greatest possible length of a scale that can be used to measure exactly the
following lengths of cloth; 3 m, 5m, 10 cm and 12 m, 90 cm.

Solution:
The lengths of cloth to be measured are, 300 cm, 510 cm and 1290 cm.
the required length of the scale is HCF is 300, 510 and 1290 i.e. 30
the greatest possible length of the scale to be used = 30 cm.

4. Find
(a) the greatest number of 4 digits and
(b) the smallest number of 4 digits
Such that they are exactly divisible by 12, 15, 20 and 35.

Solution:
(a) Using the approach 7(a),
Step I LCM of 12, 15, 20 and 35 = 420.
Step 2 420) 9999 (39
9660
339
Required number
= 999 – 339 = 9660.
(b) Using the approach 9(a),
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 LCM AND HCF

Step I LCM of 12, 15, 20 and 35 = 420.

Step 2 420) 1000 (2
840
160
Required number
= 1000 + (420 – 160) = 1260.

5. Four bells first begin to toll together and then at intervals of 6, 7, 8 and 9 seconds
respectively. Find, what interval they toll together?

Solution:
LCM of 6, 7, 8 and 9 = 504.
All the bells toll together after each interval of 504 seconds
in two hours, no. Of times they toll together = = 14 times.

6. There are two electrical wires, one is a 9 m 60 cm long aluminimum wire and the other is a
5 m 12 cm long copper wire. Find the

a) maximum length that can be equally cut from each wire in such a way that the total
length of each wire is exactly divisible by it.
b) How many such largest possible pieces are available in each kind of wire?

Solution:
9 metre 60 cm = 960 cm and 5 metre 12 cm = 512 cm.
a) The required largest piece = HCF of 960 and 512 cm, i.e. 64 cm.
b) Number of such aluminium wire pieces = nos.
and number of such copper wire pieces = nos.

7. HCF and LCM of two numbers are 16 and 240 respectively. If one of the numbers is 48, find
the other number.

Solution:
We know that, HCF x LCM = Product of two numbers
Second number = i.e. 80

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 LCM AND HCF

8. Among how many students, 175 bananas and 105 oranges can be equally divided?
Solution:
HCF of 175 and 105 = 35
The required number of students is 35, or factors of 35, namely 5 or 7.

9. Find out the HCF of 35, 39 and 314.

Solution:
Here the base of each number is same ( = 3) but indices are different.
So, the required HCF = number with the minimum index, i.e. 35.

10. Find out the LCM of 45, 4-81, 412 and 47.
Solution:
Here the base of each number is the same (= 4) but indices (or powers) are different.
So, the required LCM = number with the maximum index, i.e. 412

11. The ratio of two numbers is 15 : 11. If their HCF is 13, then the numbers are:

Solution:
Hint: Since HCF is 13, so, the numbers will be 13 x 15 and 13 x 11 terms of ratio

EXERCISE PROBLEMS:
1. The LCM of 2 numbers is 2079 and their HCF is 27. If the 1 st number is 189, find the 2nd
number.
(a) 298 (b) 295 (c) 297 (d) 287

2. Fine the LCM of 8, 15, 24 and 72

(a) 350 (b) 360 (c) 720 (d) 735

3. Find the HCF of 132, 204 and 228

(a) 12 (b) 18 (c) 6 (d) 21

4. Find the LCM of , , , .

(a) (b) (c) (d)

5. Find the HCF of and

(a) (b) (c) (d)

6. Find the LCM of 36, 56, 105, and 108.

(a) 7650 (b) 7560 (c) 6750 (d) 4580

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 LCM AND HCF

7. HCF of two numbers is 6 and also their difference is 6. The numbers are ______
(a) 22, 28 (b) 14, 20 (c) 24, 30 (d) 94,100

8. Three rods of lengths 15 m, 42 m and 39 m are to be cut into pieces of equal lengths. Find
the greatest possible length of each piece.
(a) 5m (b) 6m (c) 3m (d) 4m

9. Four drums containing water have capacities 135 liters, 205 Liters, 165 liters and 240 Liters.
Find the greatest capacity measure which can be used to measure the capacities of the
drums.
(a) 5lts (b) 6lts (c) 3lts (d) 4lts

10. Two numbers are in the ratio 3:4 and the product of their LCM and HCF is 10,800. Find the
sum of the numbers.
(a) 210 (b) 220 (c) 219 (d) 250

11. The ratio of two numbers is 3:4 and their HCF is 4. What will be their LCM?
(a) 12 (b) 16 (c) 24 (d) 48
12. If HCF and LCM of two numbers is are 4 and 496. If one of the numbers is 124, find
another number.
(a) 12 (b) 16 (c) 24 (d) 48
13. The LCM of two numbers is 495 and their HCF is 5. If sum of the numbers is 100, find the
difference of the numbers.
(a) 10 (b) 46 (c) 70 (d) 90
14. The sum of HCF and LCM of two numbers is 403 and their LCM is 12 times their HCF. If
one number is 93, find another number.
(a) 115 (b) 122 (c) 124 (d) 138
15. LCM of two numbers is 120 and their HCF is 10. Which of the following can be the sum of
those numbers?
(a) 140 (b) 80 (c) 60 (d) 70
16. If the product of two numbers is 800 and their LCM is 200, then the HCF is ….....
(a) 100 (b) 4 (c) 5 (d) 10
17. LCM of two numbers is 150 and their HCF is 4. If one number is 50, then the other number is
(a) 15 (b) 25 (c) 10 (d) 12

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 LCM AND HCF

18. Ratio of two numbers is 6 : 7 and their LCM is 420, then the smaller number is
……………….
(a) 10 (b) 60 (c) 70 (d) 30

19. Two numbers are in the ratio 3 : 4. Their LCM is 132. The greatest number is
……………….
(a) 41 (b) 33 (c) 44 (d) 38

20. The HCF of x2 – 6 x + 9, x 3 – 27 is

(a) x + 3 (b) x – 3 (c) x 2 – 9 (d) x - 9
21. If HCF and LCM of two numbers are 12 and 144 respectively. If one number is 36, the
other number is
(a) 96 (b) 48 (c) 72 (d) 24
22. Find the highest common factor 34, 102
(a) 17 (b) 34 (c) 2 (d) 3
23. Find the greatest number which will divide 3322 and 3832 leaving the remainder?
(a) 75 (b) 255 (c) 80 (d) 81

24. The product of two co prime numbers is 117. Their LCM should be
(a) 1 (b) 117 (c) (d) none of these

25. The LCM of twonumbers is 14 times their HCF. The sum of the LCM and the HCF is 600. If
one number is 280, then the other number is:
(a) 80 (b) 60 (c) 40 (d) 100

26. The sum of two numbers is 187 and their HCF is 17. What is the number of such pairs of
numbers satisfying the above condition?
(a) One (b) Four (c) Five (d) Seven

27. Find the remainder when 230 is divided by 5

(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 1 (d) 4

28. In a division sum the divisor is 12 times the quotient and 5 times the remainder. If the
remainder is 24, then the dividend is
(a) 1224 (b) 1242 (c) 1222 (d) 120

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 LCM AND HCF

29. The difference between two numbers is 642. If the larger number when divided by the
smaller one given 8 as quotient and a remainder of 19. What will be that number?
(a) 715 (b) 723 (c) 731 (d) 740

30. The smallest number when decreased by 11, is exactly divisible by 20, 28, 35, 105 is
(a) 341 (b) 431 (c) 541 (d) 531

ANSWER KEYS:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
C B A C C B C C A A D B A C D B D B C B
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
B A B B A C D A C B

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