Question

Rule to find the HCF of two or more numbers?

Answer 1

To find the HCF of two or more numbers

Rule : Change the given numbers into prime factors and then find the product of all the prime factors common to all the numbers. The product will be the required HCF.

Example : Find the HCF of 8 and 12

Soln $: 8=2 \times 2 \times 2$

$\begin{array}{c}12=2 \times 2 \times 3 \\\therefore \quad \mathrm{HCF}=2 \times 2=4 \text { Ans. }\end{array}$

Trick : If the given numbers are of equal base and unequal power then their $\mathrm{HCF}$ will be least power of the number.

Example : Find the HCF of $3^6, 3^{11}$ and $3^{17}$.

Soln : HCF $=3^6$ Ans.