Examples
Example 1: Find the HCF of 60 and 75.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 60: 60 = 2, 2, 3, 5.
Prime factorization of 75: 75 = 3, 5, 5.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(60, 75) = 15.
Example 2: Find the HCF of 36 and 42.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 36: 36 = 2, 2, 3, 3.
Prime factorization of 42: 42 = 2, 3, 7.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(36, 42) = 6.
Example 3: Find the HCF of 36 and 90.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 36: 36 = 2, 2, 3, 3.
Prime factorization of 90: 90 = 2, 3, 3, 5.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(36, 90) = 18.
Exercise
1. HCF(18,27) = 9
2. HCF(32,48) = 16
3. HCF(56,72) = 8
4. HCF(56,70) = 14
5. HCF(72,84) = 12
6. HCF(75,50) = 25
7. HCF(45,90) = 45
8. HCF(24,36) = 12
9. HCF(16,96) = 16
10. HCF(12,15) = 3