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