HIGHEST COMMON FACTOR (HCF)

The product of 2 and 3 is; 2 x 3 = 6

2 and 3 are factors of 6

The factors of a number are numbers that divide the number without a remainder

 

EXAMPLE

Find the common factors of 24 and 36

24 =    1 x 24                                             36 =   1 x 36

=    2 x 12                                                     =   2 x 18

=     3 x 8                                                        =   3 x 12

=     4 x 6                                                        =   4 x 9

=    6 x 6

Factors of 24 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24

Factors of 36 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36

Common factors of 24 and 36 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

The highest common factor  is 12.

 

EXERCISE

Find the HCF of:

1. 6 and 9
2. 6 and 27
3. 21 and 14
4. 12 and 18
5. 6 and 21
6. 6 and 15
7. 24 and 60
8. 18 and 30
9. 14 and 16
10. 6 and 10

 

See also

LEAST COMMON MULTIPLES (LCM)

SQUARES AND SQUARE ROOTS OF NUMBERS

MULTIPLICATION OF NUMBERS

Area

Length