Examples
Example 1: 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 2: 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.
Example 3: Find the HCF of 12 and 15.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 12: 12 = 2, 2, 3.
Prime factorization of 15: 15 = 3, 5.
Take the smallest power of common prime factors and multiply them together to get the HCF.
Therefore, HCF(12, 15) = 3.
Exercise
1. HCF(40,60) = 20
2. HCF(75,90) = 15
3. HCF(54,72) = 18
4. HCF(45,90) = 45
5. HCF(24,36) = 12
6. HCF(60,75) = 15
7. HCF(16,96) = 16
8. HCF(20,24) = 4
9. HCF(24,104) = 8
10. HCF(240,52) = 4