Examples
Example 1: Find the HCF of 24, 40 and 56.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 24: 24 = 2, 2, 2, 3.
Prime factorization of 40: 40 = 2, 2, 2, 5.
Prime factorization of 56: 56 = 2, 2, 2, 7.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(24, 40, 56) = 8.
Example 2: Find the HCF of 27, 45 and 72.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 27: 27 = 3, 3, 3.
Prime factorization of 45: 45 = 3, 3, 5.
Prime factorization of 72: 72 = 2, 2, 2, 3, 3.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(27, 45, 72) = 9.
Example 3: Find the HCF of 18, 27 and 45.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 18: 18 = 2, 3, 3.
Prime factorization of 27: 27 = 3, 3, 3.
Prime factorization of 45: 45 = 3, 3, 5.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(18, 27, 45) = 9.
Exercise
1. HCF(21,28,35) = 7
2. HCF(30,45,60) = 15
3. HCF(12,15,18) = 3
4. HCF(20, 40, 60) = 20
5. HCF(16, 24, 32) = 8
6. HCF(24, 68, 10) = 2
7. HCF(36, 48, 96) = 12
8. HCF(36, 54, 72) = 9
9. HCF(50, 65, 80) = 5
10. HCF(12 ,30, 72) = 6