How to Find HCF and LCM

Learn how to find the Highest Common Factor (HCF) and Lowest Common Multiple (LCM). Let’s get started! 🚀

How to Find HCF and LCM - introduction visual

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Flashcards

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Explanation that HCF is the biggest factor shared and LCM is the smallest multiple shared.Method for finding Highest Common Factor (HCF) and Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) by listing factors and multiples, with HCF of 6 and LCM of 36.Using prime factorisation to find HCF and LCM for numbers 180 and 168, with step-by-step calculations and final results.Prime factorisation of 56 and 100 to find HCF as 2² = 4 and LCM as 2³ × 5² × 7 = 1400.

🛎️ What Are HCF and LCM?

  • HCF (Highest Common Factor) is the biggest factor the numbers share
  • LCM (Lowest Common Multiple) is the smallest multiple the numbers share

🛎️ Finding HCF and LCM by Listing

  • For HCF, list the factors of each number and choose the largest common one
  • For LCM, list the multiples of each number and choose the smallest common one

🛎️ Finding HCF and LCM by Prime Factorisation

  • Use prime factorisation for larger numbers or when listing would be long
  • Write each number as a product of prime factors

🛎️ Using Prime Factors to Find HCF and LCM

  • For HCF, take the common primes with the lowest powers
  • For LCM, take all primes with the highest powers

Practice Questions

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Interactive Activity

Visualize HCF and LCM using prime factorisation

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