LCM
LCM
LCM & HCF and can divide that number is called HCF. HCF, which is
LCM also known as Greatest Common Divisor (GCD), is the
A common multiple is a number that is a multiple of two highest value that can divide the given numbers.
or more than two numbers. The common multiples of 3 Factors of 20 — 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20.
and 4 are 12, 24,... Factors of 30 — 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30.
Therefore, 10 will be the HCF of 20 and 30.
The least common multiple (LCM) of two numbers is the
smallest positive number that is a multiple of both. Process to Find HCF
Multiples of 3 — 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24,... Step 1 Factorize all the numbers into their prime
Multiples of 4 — 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28,... factors.
Therefore, LCM of 3 and 4 will be 12, which is the lowest Step 2 Collect all the common factors.
common multiple of 3 and 4. Step 3 Raise each factor to its minimum available
power and multiply.
First of all, the basic question which lies is—for what
kind of numbers, we can use LCM? Example 7 HCF of 100, 200, and 250
Let us explain it through an example: LCM of 10, 20, and Solution
25 is 100. It means that 100 is the lowest number, which Step 1 100 = 22 × 52
is divisible by all these three numbers. 200 = 23 × 52
Since (−100) is lower than 100 and divisible by each of 250 = 53 × 21
10, 20, and 25, can the LCM be (−100)? or can it be 0? Step 2 2, 5
Further, what will be the LCM of (−10) and 20? Will it be Step 3 21 × 52 = 50
(−20) or (−200) or (−2000) or smallest of all the Alternatively, to find HCF of numbers such as 100, 200,
numbers, that is, <−∞? and 250, we have to observe the common quantity that
Answer to all these questions is very simple: LCM is a can be taken from these numbers. To do this, we can
concept defined only for positive numbers, whether the write these
number is an integer or a fraction. In other words, LCM numbers as (100x + 200y + 250z), and now, it can be
is not defined for negative numbers or zero. very easily observed that we can take 50 as the common
Now, we will define a different method for finding the number from the given numbers.
LCM of two or more than two positive integers. The LCM and HCF can be summarized as follows: it
Process to Find LCM is very essential to understand the mechanism of
Step 1 Factorize all the numbers into their prime determining LCM and HCF. These two concepts can be
factors. understood easily by the following example:
Step 2 Collect all the distinct factors.
Step 3 Raise each factor to its maximum available Terminology
power and multiply. Prime number : A prime number is a natural number
Example 4 LCM of 10, 20, 25. greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1
Solution and itself.
Step 1 10 = 21 × 51 For example, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, etc. are prime numbers.
20 = 22 × 51
25 = 52 Co-Prime Number: Two numbers are said to be
Step 2 2, 5 relatively prime, mutually prime, or co-prime to each
Step 3 22 × 52 = 100 other when they have no common factor or the only
One of the principal advantage of using this method is common positive factor of the two numbers is 1.
that we can find the LCM of any number of numbers in a In other words, two numbers are said to be co-primes if
straight line without using the conventional method. The their H.C.F. is 1.
following explains this using the previous example:
The LCM of 10 and 20 = 20, and LCM of 20 and 25 = 100 Factors: The numbers are said to be factors of a given
(For this, we have to know which factor of 25 is not number when they exactly divide that number.
present in 20; then, we need to multiply it by this factor. Thus, factors of 18 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 18.
Therefore, 25 is having 52 and 20 is having 51 only, and
hence, we will multiply 20 by 5.) Common Factors: A common factor of two or more
numbers is a number which divides each of them exactly.
Highest Common Factor (HCF) Thus, each of the numbers - 2, 4 and 8 is a common
factor of 8 and 24.
x (x ) – 5 (x + 8) = 0
111. (d) for greatest number divide to take HCF (x - 5) (x + 8) = 42
x=5x=-8
HCF But numbmers are even, so (x = 5)
200 320 Thus, Number are = 2 × 5 + 2 = 12
120 = 40 × 3 and 2 × 5 + 4 = 14
(for HCF take difference or take factor of Sum of numbers are
difference) 117. (b) P = 23. 310.5
HCF = 40 Q = 25 3. 7
(for greatest number divided by take LCM) HCF (P,Q) = (common factor of P & Q) = 23.3
112. (c) HCF = (84, 90 , 120) 118. (a) Let fraction is
120
- - ∴ (given)
6 30 Cross multiply the equation
- x – 24 = y + 1
24 6x – y – ………… (i)
again, (given)
HCF = 6
∴ maximum no. of books in each stack x y
113. (b) 729- 9 = 720 3x – y ……. (ii)
901 - 5 = 896 From equation (i) and (ii)
HCF (720, 896) 6x – y = 25
720 896 3x – y = - 5
176 x = 10
Thus, y = 35
∴
HCF
Fraction =
114. (a) HCF = 12
given ratio of number numerator = 2
=A : B : C denominator = 7
1: 2:3 LCM (numerator, denominator)
Thus, Numbers are = A = 12
B = 12 × 2 = 24 119. (b) HCF of fractional numbers is
C = 12 × 3 = 36
(12, 24, 36)
115. (d) HCF = z ∴ HCF ( )
given ratio of the numbers = x : y
LCM is the product of HCF and other factors =
116. (b) Let two consecutive positive even numbers 120. (b) 100 – 2 = 108
are (2x + 2) and (2x + 4) 128- 2 = 126
HCF = 2 (given) Thus, HCF (108, 126) = 18
common (factor) 121. (b) for least or minimum number of canes we