How to find hcf of number
To find the HCF (Highest Common Factor) of a number, you can follow these steps:
1. Write down the prime factorization of each number you want to find the HCF for. Prime factorization means expressing each number as a product of prime numbers. For example, if you want to find the HCF of 24 and 36:
- 24 can be expressed as 2 x 2 x 2 x 3.
- 36 can be expressed as 2 x 2 x 3 x 3.
2. Identify the common prime factors. The common prime factors are those factors that are present in both numbers. In this case, the common prime factors are 2 and 3.
3. Multiply the common prime factors together. In this case, multiply 2 and 3 together to get the HCF: HCF = 2 x 3 = 6.
Therefore, the highest common factor of 24 and 36 is 6.
To find the highest common factor (HCF) of two or more numbers, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: List the prime factors of each number.
Write down the prime factors of all the numbers you want to find the HCF for. Prime factors are the prime numbers that can divide a number exactly.
Step 2: Identify the common factors.
Look for the common prime factors from the list you created in step 1. These are the prime factors that appear in the factorization of all the numbers.
Step 3: Multiply the common factors.
Multiply the common prime factors you identified in step 2 together. The product of these common factors gives you the HCF of the given numbers. If there are no common factors, then the HCF is 1.
Step 4: Simplify (optional).
If possible, simplify the obtained HCF by finding the product of the common prime factors raised to the lowest power they appear in the factorization of the given numbers.
By following these steps, you should be able to find the HCF of any set of numbers.