HCF & LCM

Formula 1: If r is the remainder in each case when N is divided by x, y, z then the general format of the
number is N= K x [LCM (x, y, z)] + r here K is a natural number

Example: A teacher when distributed certain number of chocolates to 4 children, 5 children, 7 children, left
with 1 chocolate. Find the least number of chocolates the teacher brought to the class
Ans: N = K (LCM (4, 5, 7) + 1 = 140K + 1. Where K = natural number. When we substitute K = 1, we get
the least number satisfies the condition. So minimum chocolates = 141

Formula 2: If x1,y1,z1
are the remainders when N is divided by x, y, z and x−x1=y−y1=z−z1=a
then the general format of the number is given by N= K x [LCM (x, y, z)] - a

Example: When certain number of marbles are divided into groups of 4, one marble remained. When the
same number of marbles are divided into groups of 7 and 12 then 4, 9 marbles remained. If the total marbles
are less than 10,000 then find the maximum possible number of marbles.
Ans: In this case the difference between the remainders and divisors is constant. i.e., 3. so N = K (LCM (4, 7,
12) - 3 = 84K - 3. Where K = natural number.
But we know that 84K - 3 < 10,000 ⇒
84 x 119 - 3 < 10,000 ⇒ 9996 - 3 = 9993

Formula 3: if a, b, c are the remainders in each case when A, B, C are divided by N then N = HCF (A-a, B-b,
C-c)

Example: Find the greatest number, which will divide 260, 281 and 303, leaving 7, 5 and 4 as remainders
respectively.
Ans: We have to find the HCF of (260 - 7, 281 - 5, 303 - 4) = HCF (253, 276, 299) = 23

Formula 4: When A, B, C are divided by N then the remainder is same in each case then N = HCF of any two
of (A-B, B-C, C-A)

Example: Find the greatest number by which if we divide 740, 838 and 985, then in each case the remainder is
the same.
Ans: Given number is HCF (838 - 740, 985 - 838) = 49

Important result:
If we divide the given numbers with their HCF, the quotients must be co-primes with each other.
Let us assume two numbers A, B. Take A = ah and B = bh where a,b are co-primes with each other and h is
the highest common factor of the two numbers.
Now LCM (A, B) = abh. (because h is the HCF of two given numbers, when we divide A, B with h, the
quotients are coprimes. So LCM is equal to the product of h, a, b).
Now we can observe that A x B = ah x bh = abh x h = LCM (A, B) x HCF (A, B)
Q1. LCM of 2/7, 3/14and 5/3is c. many such pairs exist
a. 45 d. no such pair exists
b. 35 Q3. The HCF of two numbers is 12 and their
c. 30 difference is also 12. The numbers are
d. 25 a. 66, 78
Q2. About the number of pairs which have 16 as b. 94, 106
their HCF and 136 as their LCM, the conclusion c. 70, 82
can be d. 84, 96
a. only one such pair exists
b. only two such pairs exist

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 HCF & LCM

Q4. The HCF of two numbers is 16 and their LCM is Q11. The total number of prime factors of the
20 24 15
160. If one of the numbers is 32, then the other product (8) ×(15) ×(17) is
number is a. 59
a. 48 b. 98
b. 80 c. 123
c. 96 d. 4
d. 112 Q12. The HCF and LCM of two numbers are 44 and
Q5. HCF of three numbers is 12. If they are in the 264 respectively. If the first number is divisible
ratio 1:2:3, then the numbers are by 3, then the first number is
a. 12,24,36 a. 264
b. 10,20,30 b. 132
c. 5,10,15 c. Both a and b
d. 4,8,12 d. 33
Q6. Six bells commence tolling together and toll at Q13. What least number must be subtracted from
intervals of 2,4,6,8,10 and 12 seconds 1294 so that the remainder when divided 9,
respectively. In 30 minutes, how many times 11, 13 will leave in each case the same
do they toll together? remainder 6 ?
a. 4 a. 0
b. 10 b. 1
c. 15 c. 2
d. 16 d. 3
Q7. The largest natural number which exactly Q14. The least number which is divisible by 12, 15,
divides the product of any four consecutive 20 and is a perfect square, is
natural numbers is : a. 400
a. 6 b. 900
b. 12 c. 1600
c. 24 d. 3600
d. 120 Q15. The least perfect square number which is
Q8. LCM of 87 and 145 is : divisible by 3,4,5,6 and 8 is
a. 870 a. 900
b. 1305 b. 1200
c. 435 c. 2500
d. 1740 d. 3600
Q9. The traffic lights at three different road crossing
change after every 48 sec; 72 sec; and 108 Q16. Three piece of timber 42 m, 49 m and 63 m
sec., respectively. If they all change long have to be divided into planks of the
simultaneously at 8:20:00 hrs, then they will same length. What is the greatest possible
again change simultaneously at length of each plank?
a. 8:27:12 Hrs a. 7 m
b. 8:27:24 Hrs b. 14 m
c. 8:27:36 Hrs c. 42 m
d. 8:27:48 Hrs d. 63 m
Q10. The greatest number by which if 1657 and Q17. The greatest number which can divide 1354,
2037 are divided the remainders will be 6 and 1866, 2762 leaving the same remainder 10 in
5 respectively is each case is :
a. 127 a. 64
b. 235 b. 124
c. 260 c. 156
d. 305 d. 260

Level 2 Questions
Q18. Find the value of LCM(1,2,3,4,.........100) / LCM(51,52,53,......100)
Q19. Find the number of combinations of (a, b, c) if LCM (a, b) = 1000, LCM (b, c) = 2000, LCM (c, a) = 2000
Q20. The letters A, B, C, D, E, F and G represent distinct digits chosen from (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9)
such that A*B*C = B*G*E = D*E*F, where ‘*’ means multiplication. What does the letter G represent?

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 HCF & LCM

Q1. Correct Option: C

LCM of numerators / HCF of denominators = (LCM of 2, 3, 5)/ (HCFof7,14,3) = 30/1=30
Q2. Correct Option: D
HCF is always a factor of LCM. ie., HCF always divides LCM perfectly.
Q3. Correct Option: D
The difference of required numbers must be 12 and every number must be divisible by 12. Therefore,
they are 84, 96.
Q4. Correct Option:b
The number = HCF×LCM / Given number=16×160/32=80
Q5. Correct Option: A
Let the numbers be a, 2a and 3a.
Then, their HCF = a so a=12
The numbers are 12,24,36
Q6. Correct Option: D
LCM of 2,4,6, 8,10 and 12 is 120. So, the bells will toll simultaneously after 120 seconds.
i.e.2 minutes. In 30 minutes, they (30/2+1) toll times ie.16 times.
Q7. Correct Option: C
The required number can be find out by following way. 1×2×3×4=24
Q8. Correct Option: C
87 = 29 x 3; 145 = 29 x 5; So, LCM = 29 x 3 x 5 = 435
Q9. Correct Option: A
The change of interval=(LCM of 48,72,108)sec.=432. So, for every 432 seconds i.e.7 min. 12 sec. the
lights will change. So add 7 min.12 sec.to 8:20:00 Hrs.i.e.8:27:12 Hrs.
Q10. Correct Option: A
The needed number is HCF of (1657-6) and (2037-5)=HCF of 1651 & 2032=127.
Q11. Correct Option: D
The prime numbers are 2,3,5,17 in the expression. The expression can be written as
(23)20×(3×5)24×(17)15 ⇒ 260×324×524×1715
So number of prime factors are 4. i.e., 2, 3, 5, 17
Q12. Correct Option: C
Let the numbers are ah, bh respectively. Here h is HCF of two numbers. (obviously a, b are coprimes
i.e., HCF (a, b) = 1)
Given that HCF = h = 44 and LCM = abh = 264
Dividing LCM by HCF we get ab = 6.
ab can be written as 1 x 6, 2 x 3, 3 x 2, 6 x 1.But given that the first number is divisible by 3. So, only two
options possible for A. 3 x 44, 6 x 44. So option C is correct
Q13. Correct Option: B
LCM of 9,11,13 is 1287. Dividing 1294 with 1287, the remainder will be 7, to get remainder 6, 1 is to be
deducted from 1294 so that 1293 when divided by 9,11,13 leaves 6 as remainder.
Q14. Correct Option: b
LCM = 5 × 3 × 22 = 60; To make the number as a perfect square, we have to multiply it by 5 × 3
The number is 60 × 15= 900
Q15. Correct Option: D
LCM = 2×2×2×3×5=23×3×5; But the least perfect square is = 23×3×5×(2×3×5)=24×32×52=3600 as the
perfect squares have their powers even.
Q16. Correct Option: A
The maximum possible length = (HCF of 42, 49, 63) = 7
Q17. Correct Option: A
The needed number = HCF of 1344, 1856 and 2752=64

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 HCF & LCM

Q18. Solution:

LCM is defined as the product of all the prime numbers with maximum powers in the given
numbers. There are 25 primes below 100 and we need to consider all the prime number where they take
their maximum power.

LCM of (1, 2, 3, .........100) = 26×34×52×72×11×13.............97

6 4 2 2
so LCM of (51, 52, 53, ...........100) = 2 ×3 ×5 ×7 ×11×13.............97
6
For example 2 takes its maximum power 6 in 64. i.e., 2 . Similarly 3 takes its maximum power 4 in
81. i.e., 34

Now to find the LCM of (51, 52, 53......100) we need to consider the prime numbers up to 100 as 100 is
the maximum number. Again we can find the maximum power of 2 is 6 in 64. for 3 it is 4 in 81. for 5 it is 2
in 75 or 100...

LCM(1,2,3,4,.........100) / LCM(51,52,53,......100) = (26×34×52×72×11×13.............97) /

(26×34×52×72×11×13.............97) = 1

Q19. Solution:

LCM (a, b) = 23×53

LCM (b, c) = 24×53
LCM (c, a) = 24×53
Let a = 2p×5s
b = 2q×5t
c = 2r×5u
Calculation for powers of 2:
Maximum power of 2 is 4 in LCM (c, a). So r is 4. and either p or q will take 3 and other will take 0, 1, 2,
3.
r = 4; p = 3; q = 0, 1, 2, 3
r = 4; p = 0, 1, 2; q = 3,
Total combinations are (4,3,0), (4, 3, 1), (4, 3, 2), (4, 3, 3) and (4, 0, 3), (4, 1, 3), (4, 2, 3).
Total options for powers of 2 = 7
Calculation for powers of 5:
Maximum power of 5 is 3. So any 2 of s, t, u have maximum power 3. and other will take 0, 1, 2, 3
a = 3, b = 3, c = 0, 1, 2, 3
a = 0, 1, 2; b = 3; c= 3,
a = 3; b = 0, 1, 2; c = 3
Total options are 7 x 10 = 70

Q20. Solution:
Assume A*B*C = B*G*E = D*E*F = X then A, B, C, D, E, F, G all divides X exactly. That means, X is the
LCM of all these digits. LCM of (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9) = 72
As A*B*C = B*G*E = D*E*F - - - - (i), so each expression must possess those numbers whose integral
multiple or sub-multiples is/are possessed by the other expressions. Thus 0, 5 & 7 are ruled out.

But 72 = 1 x 8 x 9 = 2 x 4 x 9 = 6 x 4 x 3
Here 4, 9 appeared two times so these values take B, E in some order so G = 2
We can't determine the remaining values uniquely.

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