Question

Using prime factorization, find the HCF and LCM of  24, 36, 40 .

Answer 1

24 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 = 2³ × 3
36 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 2² × 3²
40 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 = 23 × 5
HCF = product of smallest power of each common prime factor in the numbers
= 2² = 4
LCM = product of greatest power of each prime factor involved in the numbers
= 2³ × 3² × 5 = 360