Examples
Example 1: Find the HCF of 4 and 6.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 4: 4 = 2, 2.
Prime factorization of 6: 6 = 2, 3.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(4, 6) = 2.
Example 2: Find the HCF of 6 and 9.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 6: 6 = 2, 3.
Prime factorization of 9: 9 = 3, 3.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(6, 9) = 3.
Example 3: Find the HCF of 8 and 12.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 8: 8 = 2, 2, 2.
Prime factorization of 12: 12 = 2, 2, 3.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(8, 12) = 4.
Exercise
1. HCF(75,100,125) = 25
2. HCF(49,98,147) = 49
3. HCF(21,28,35) = 7
4. HCF(8,24,40) = 8
5. HCF(16,24,32) = 8
6. HCF(14,21,28) = 7
7. HCF(36, 48, 96) = 12
8. HCF(25,30,40) = 5
9. HCF(9,12,15) = 3
10. HCF(12,18,24) = 6