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Mrunal[Aptitude]LCM,HCF,GCD:Basicconcept,calculation,applicationsexplainedMrunal

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[Aptitude]LCM,HCF,GCD:Basicconcept,calculation,
applicationsexplained
PostedBySupportStaffOn17/03/2013@12:22pmInAptitude|127Comments
1. Introduction
2. WhatisPrimenumber?
3. WhatisLCM?
LCM4EXam
HowtofindLCMusingPrimeFactorization?
LCMoftwonumbers(56,96)
LCMofthreenumbers:(12,15,20)
LCMofprimenumbers
LCMofcoprimenumbers
4. WhatisHCForGCD?
HCFfinding:PrimeFactorization
HCFoftwonumbers(4,6)
HCFofthreenumbers(12,24,36)
HCFofprimenumbers(13,29)
HCFofcoprimenumbers(12,25)
HCFvsLCM:#1multiplication
HCFvsLCM:#2Magnitude
HCFvsLCM:offractions
5. formorepracticeonLCM,HCF

Introduction
1. ConceptofLCM,HCFimportantfornumbertheoryandremainderbasedproblems
(generallyaskedinSSCCGL,CAT.)
2. LCMisimportantfortimeandspeed,timeandworkproblems.
3. LCMisalsoimportantforcircularracetracks,bells,blinkinglights,etc.
4. HCFisimportantforlargestsizeoftiles,largestsizeoftapetomeasurealandetc.
ButbeforegettingintoLCM,HCF,letsunderstand

WhatisPrimenumber?
Considerthisnumber:12.Thisnumbercanbefoundinmanymultiplicationtablesfor
example
1x12=12.
2x6=12
3x4=12
Thatmeans,12hasmanyfactors(1,2,3,4,6,12).Suchnumberiscalledacompositenumber.
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Ontheotherhand,considerthisnumber:29.Youcannotfinditinanytableexcept29x1
=29.Suchnumberiscalledaprimenumber.
Letsmakeashortlistfromexampointofview
Prime
Nonprime(composite)
2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23,29 4,6,8,9,10,12,14,15.
Nowholdthisprimenumberthoughtinyourmindforawhile.

WhatisLCM?
First,letscreatemultiplicationtablesof4and6.
4stable
4x1=
4x2=
4x3=
4x4=
4x5=
4x6=
4x7=
4x8=
4x9=

multiple
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36

6stable
6x1=
6x2=
6x3=
6x4=
6x5=
6x6=
6x7=
6x8=
6x9=

multiple
6
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
54

Doyouseeanycommonnumbersinthemultiplesof4and6?
YesIsee12,24and36arecommoninbothtables.Letsisolatethem.
4x3= 12 6x2= 12
4x6= 24 6x4= 24
4x9= 36 6x6= 36
Okso12,24and36arecommonmultiplesof4and6.Butwhatisthesmallestofthese
multiples?Ans12issmallest.
Intheexam,wevenotimetomakesuch^bigtablestofindLCM.SohowtoquicklyfindLCMof
twoorthreenumbers?Therearemanytricks,theeasiestoneisprimefactorization.Welllearn
thatinabit,butbeforethat:

LCM4EXam
1. Supposethereisacircularracetrack.TarakMehtatakes4minutestofinishitandJethalal
takes6minutestofinishit.Nowbothofthemstartrunningfromthesamepointatthesame
timeinthesamedirection.Theyllcontinuerunningonthistrackforever.Soafterhowmany
minuteswilltheymeetforthefirsttimeonthestartingpoint?Ans.LCMoftime=LCM
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2.
3.
4.
5.

Mrunal[Aptitude]LCM,HCF,GCD:Basicconcept,calculation,applicationsexplainedMrunal

(4,6)=12minutes.Theyllmeetagainonthestartingpointafter12minutes.
Twobellsringatanintervalof4and6minutesrespectively.Afterhowmanyminuteswill
theyringtogether?AnsLCM(4,6)
Twotrafficlightsblinkatanintervalof40and60secondsrespectively.Afterhowmany
minuteswilltheylinktogether?AnsLCM(40,60).
HCFisalsoimportantforremainderrelatedquestions.butIllcoverthatinaseparatearticle.
HowtoapplyLCMintimespeeddistance/work,pipescisternetcquestions,isalready
coveredinoldarticles.(Mrunal.org/aptitude)

HowtofindLCMusingPrimeFactorization?
Supposeintheexam,weneedtofindLCMof4and6.
Makeatablelikethis
Number Factors
4
6
Nowyouneedtofindtheprimefactorsof4and6.
Number Factors
4
2x2
6
2x3
Expressitintermsofpowers.Forexample2x2=22
Number factors
4
22
6
2x3
NowmakethethirdrowcalledLCM.
Number factors
4
22
6
2x3
LCM
NowwriteallprimenumbersinthisLCMrow
Number
4
6
LCM

factors
22
2x3
2,3

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Writemaximumpowerofeachprimenumber
Number
4
6
LCM

factors
22
2x3
22,3

Asyoucansee,maximumpowerof2was22(in4srow).
NowmultiplethenumbersgiveninLCMrow
Number
4
6
LCM

factors
22
2x3
22x3=12

Thatsouranswer.LCM(4,6)=12.
IfIplotthisLCMsituationonaVennDiagram,itlllooklikethis:

Anyways,Letstryadifficultone:56and96.

LCMoftwonumbers(56,96)
Numbers Factors
56
96
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Firstrecall,inwhichtablesdotheycome?Well56comesin8stableand96comesin12stable.
Number Factors
56
8x7
96
12x8
butweneedfactorsinprimenumberformat.12and8arenotprimenumbers.Solets
Simplifyfurther.
56=8x7=23x7(because8=4x2=2x2x2)
96=12x8=(43)x(42)=(22x3)(23)=25x3(pleasenoteyouhavetodothisthingsinyour
head,ifyoustartmakingeverycalculationonapieceofpaper,youllrunoutoftimeinthe
exam).
Number Factors
56
23x7
96
25x3
NowletsmaketheLCMrow.Writeallprimenumbers(2,3and7)inascendingorder.
Number Factors
56
23x7
96
25x3
LCM
237
Nowwritemaximumpowersofeachprimenumber.
Number Factors
56
23x7
96
25x3
LCM

2537

Multiplythesenumbers
Number Factors
56
23x7
96
25x3
LCM

25x3x7=3221=672

SoLCM(56,96)=672
letstryfindingLCMofthreenumbers.

LCMofthreenumbers:(12,15,20)
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Approachissame.Makeprimefactors
Number
12
15
20

Primefactors
22x3
3x5
22x5

Makeanewrow,writeallprimefactorsinascendingorder.
Number
12
15
20
LCM

Primefactors
22x3
3x5
22x5
2,3,5

Inthelastrow,Writethemaximumpowerofthoseprimenumbers.
Number
12
15
20

Primefactors

LCM

22,3,5

22x3
3x5
22x5

Nowmultiplethenumbersinlastrow
Number
12
15
20

Primefactors

LCM

22x3x5=60

22x3
3x5
22x5

ThereforeLCM(12,15,20)=60.
Youcanalsolookatitinfollowingway:
12x5=60
15x4=60
20x3=60.
So60istheleastcommonmultiple.

LCMofprimenumbers
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FindLCMof7,11,13
Wealreadyknowtheseareprimenumbers.Sotheyllnothaveanycommonfactors.Wejusthave
tomultiplythemtogetherandwellgetLCM.Butforthesakeofconceptualclarity
Numbers
7
11
13
LCM

Factors
7x1
11x1
13x1
1x7x11x13=1001

So1001istheanswer.

LCMofcoprimenumbers
Coprimenumbersarethosenumbersthatdonothaveanycommonfactors.Forexample,14
and15.
Individuallynoneofthemisprimenumberbecause14=2x7and15=3x5.
Butthey(14and15)donothaveanycommonfactors.Sotheyrecalledcoprimenumbers
(whentheyregiventogether).
Anytwoconsecutivenumbersarecoprimenumbers.(e.g.11,12or1548,1549).
Incaseofcoprimenumbers,justmultiplythemandyouwillgetLCM.Thereisnoneedto
findfactors.example
6
2x3
7
7
LCM 2x3x7=(6)x7=42

Advantagesofthismethod?
1. ExtremelyfastwhenyouvetofindLCMsoftwodigitnumbersforexample12,15,96.
2. Andusuallyintimespeedwork,pipecisterntypequestionshavenumberintwodigits(e.g.
12,15,96)soitisveryeasytorecallinwhichmultiplicationtablesdotheycome.

Disadvantages?
3. Becomestedious,asthenumbergrowsbigger,forexampleLCM(235,512).Thereareother
methodstosolvethoseLCMs,butletsnotcomplicatethisarticleanyfurther.Letsstickto
thisPrimeFactorizationmethodforawhile.
OksofarweknowwhatisLCMandhowtofindHCF/GCD?

WhatisHCForGCD?
HCF=Highestcommonfactors.
GCD=Greatestcommondivisor.Namesaredifferentotherwisetheyreoneandsame.
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SupposeyouvetofindtheHCFof(4and6).
Illwritethetablesofnumbersthatcomebefore4and6(i.e.1,2and3.)
1x1=
1x2=
1x3=
1x4=
1x5=
1x6=
1x7=
1x8=
1x9=

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

2x1=
2x2=
2x3=
2x4=
2x5=
2x6=
2x7=
2x8=
2x9=

2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18

3x1=
3x2=
3x3=
3x4=
3x5=
3x6=
3x7=
3x8=
3x9=

3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27

Ok,inwhichnumberstable(1,2or3)doyouseeboth4and6reappearing?
Therearetwosuchtables1stableand2stable.
4and6arecommonin1stable. 4and6arecommonin2stable.
1x4=4
2x2=4
1x6=6
2x3=6.

Whatdoes^thismean?
IfIdivide4by1,Igetzeroremainder.SimilarlyifIdivide6by1,Igetzeroremainder.In
otherwords,1isthefactorofboth4and6.Inotherwords,4and6comeinthetableof1.
Similarly,IfIdivide4by2,Igetzeroremainder.SimilarlyifIdivide6by2,Igetzero
remainder.Inotherwords,2isthefactorofboth4and6.Inotherwords,4and6comeinthe
tableof2.
Thus,4and6havetwocommonfactors(1and2)buthighestofthesecommonfactorsis2.
ThereforeHCFof(4,6)=2.

HCF4EXAM?
Whatisthehighestnumberthatlldivide4and6evenly.AnsHCF(4,6)
Thereisa4x6mrectangularfarm.Findthelengthoflongesttapethatcanmeasurethis
field.AnsHCF(4,6)
Thereisa4x6cmfloor.Findthelengthoflargestsquaretilethatcanbeevenlylaidonit.
AnsHCF(4,6)
Twodrumscontain400and600litersofdesiandforeignliquorrespectively.Whatisthe
biggestmeasure(cup)thatcanmeasurebothofthemexactly?Ans.HCF(400,600).
Ateacherhas40pensand60pencils.Findmaximumnumberofstudentsamongwhomshe
candistributetheseitemsevenly.
HCFisalsoimportantforremainderrelatedquestions.butIllcoverthatinaseparatearticle.

HCFfinding:PrimeFactorization
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Intheexam,wecantmakemultiplicationtablesofeverynumberprecedingthegivennumbers!So
hereistheshortcuttechnique.WellusethesameapproachweveusedinLCMmethod:prime
factorization.

HCFoftwonumbers(4,6)
Firstmakeprimefactorsofgivennumbers.
4 22
6 2x3
Now,makethirdrow:HCFandwritetheprimenumbersthatarecommoninbothnumbers.
4
22
6
2x3
HCF 21
Therefore,HCF(4,6)=2
IfIvetoplottheHCFof4and6onaVenndiagram,itlllooklikethis:

HCFofthreenumbers(12,24,36)
12 2x6
24 3x8
36 6x6
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ButIwanttheminprimeformat.SoIllfurthersimplify.
12 2x2x3=22x3
24 3x2x2x2=23x3
36 3x2x3x2=22x32
Intheexamyouvetodothisinyour^head.
12 22x3
24 23x3
36 22x32
Nowmakeanewrow,writetheprimenumbersthatarecommoninallofabove.
12

22x3

24

23x3

36

22x32

HCF 22x3
^incaseyoureconfused,letmerewriteanddoitagain
12

22x3

24

22x2x3

36

22x3x3

HCF 22x3
Thenumbershighlightedinboldarecommon.ThereforeHCF=22x3=12.

HCFofprimenumbers(13,29)
Primenumbersdonothaveanycommonfactors.SoHCFofsuchnumbersisalways1.Butforthe
clarityletsdoit
13
13x1
29
29x1
HCF 1(because1iscommoninboth)

HCFofcoprimenumbers(12,25)
Againsame:1,becausecoprimenumbersdonothavecommonfactors.
Similarlyconsecutivenumbers(like456,457)donothavecommonfactorseither.
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Therefore,inallsuchcases,HCF=1.

HCFvsLCM:#1multiplication
Ifwevetwonumbersaandb.andtheirHCFandLCMaregiventhen
HCFxLCM=axb.
ButthisrelationonlyworkforTWOnumbersandnotformorethantwonumbers.
Letsunderstandthiswithanexample.
YouknowthatLCM(4,6)=12andHCF(4,6)=2.
Lefthandside(LCMxHCF)
12x2
=24

Righthandside(multiplicationofgiven
numbers)
4x6
=24

Sobothsidesmatch.Therefore,incaseoftwonumbers(aandb)
LCMXHCF=axb.
Butthisisnotalwaystrueforthreenumbers.Forexample,FindLCMandHCFof12,15,20.
YoullgetHCF=1andLCM=60.
Lefthandside(LCMxHCF) Righthandside(multiplicationofgivennumbers)
60x1
12x15x20
=60
=3600
Inthiscase,bothsidesdonotmatch.

HCFvsLCM:#2Magnitude
Foranygivennumbers,theirLCMisalwaysgreaterthanorequaltothebiggestnumber.For
example
Numbers
12,15,20
15,30

LCM
60sogreaterthanbiggestnumber(20)
30.whichisequaltothebiggestnumber
(30).

Similarly,forHCF,theHCFofgivennumbersisalwayslessthanorequaltothesmallestnumber.
Forexample
Numbers HCF
12,15,20 1soitissmallerthansmallestnumber12
15,30
15.soitisequaltothesmallestnumber15.
Okthisisjustthebasicoverview.Inthenextarticle,wellseetheapplicationoftheseconcepts.In
themeantime,tryfindingLCMandHCFsoffollowingnumbers
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Question
91,12
46,69
69,97
63,33
72,58
5,84
91,41
65,57
74,12
44,55
8,28,175

Answer(LCM,HCF)
1092,1
138,23
6693,1
693,3
2088,2
420,1
3731,1
3705,1
444,2
220,11
1400,1

LCM,HCFoffractions
Justobservethecolorpatterninfollowingimage:

formorepracticeonLCM,HCF
Book
QuantitativeAptitude,R.S.Agarwal
FasttrackArithmetic,RajeshVerma
QuantamCAT,SarveshKumar
ArunSharma(CAT)

Chapterno.
2
2
Ex.1.3,1.4
1

Inallsuchbooks,theauthorsfirstgive56illustrationexamplesandthenexercises.Isuggestyou
solvethetheillustrationexamplesaswell.Afterallaptitudeisallaboutpractice.
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