Examples
Example 1: Find the HCF of 32, 48 and 54.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 32: 32 = 2, 2, 2, 2, 2.
Prime factorization of 48: 48 = 2, 2, 2, 2, 3.
Prime factorization of 54: 54 = 2, 3, 3, 3.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(32, 48, 54) = 2.
Example 2: Find the HCF of 45, 50 and 55.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 45: 45 = 3, 3, 5.
Prime factorization of 50: 50 = 2, 5, 5.
Prime factorization of 55: 55 = 5, 11.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(45, 50, 55) = 5.
Example 3: Find the HCF of 12, 18 and 24.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 12: 12 = 2, 2, 3.
Prime factorization of 18: 18 = 2, 3, 3.
Prime factorization of 24: 24 = 2, 2, 2, 3.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(12, 18, 24) = 6.
Exercise
1. HCF(12,15,18) = 3
2. HCF(16,24,32) = 8
3. HCF(24,40,56) = 8
4. HCF(23, 52, 130) = 1
5. HCF(22, 33, 55) = 11
6. HCF(12, 16, 56) = 4
7. HCF(8, 48, 72) = 8
8. HCF(16, 52, 56) = 4
9. HCF( 21, 33, 69) = 3
10. HCF(6, 20, 72) = 2