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LCM and HCF concept is one of the most important and frequently tested topics in quantitative aptitude for competitive exams. It is asked in almost every major exam including SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Bank PO, Bank Clerk, Railway RRB, CAT and UPSC CSAT. This topic is also important for GMAT, GRE, SAT, AMCAT, eLitmus, TCS NQT and all campus placement aptitude tests worldwide. A strong understanding of LCM and HCF formulas, all three methods of finding HCF — factorization method, division method and difference method — and the relationship between LCM and HCF is essential for scoring well in these exams. In this post we cover everything from the basic definition of factors and multiples, HCF and LCM using all methods, LCM and HCF of fractions and decimals, important properties and word problems based on LCM and HCF — all explained with solved examples.

📚 What You Will Learn in This Post

Factors and Multiples — Basic Definition and Concept

HCF — Factorization Method, Division Method and Difference Method

LCM — Factorization Method and Division Method

LCM and HCF of Fractions and Decimals

Important Properties — Product of Numbers equals HCF times LCM

Word Problems on LCM and HCF — Least Number and Greatest Number Types

Solved Examples on LCM and HCF for Competitive Exams

LCM & HCF

Factors:-
If a number ‘a’ divides another number ‘b’ exactly then ‘a’ is called a factor of b.

Multiple:-
If a number ‘b’ is exactly divisible by another number ‘a’ then ‘b’ is called multiple of a.
Ex:
Consier two numbers 6 & 24
6 is a factor of 24
& 24 is a multiple of 6.

HCF or GCD:-
The HCF of two or more than two numbers is the greatest number that divides each of them exactly.

HCF Highest common factorGCD Greatest common divisorSame

Ex:- Find the HCF of 24, 36, 60
The highest number which divides these numbers exactly is 12.
∴ HCF ⟶ 12       Answer
There are three methods to find HCF of given set of numbers
(i) Factorization Method
(ii) Division Method

● Rules of divisibility are very helpful in finding the HCF or finding the answer using given options in competitive exams. So learn them properly.

(i) Factorization Method:-
Express each of the given numbers as the product of prime factors. Product of least powers of common prime factors gives HCF.

24126312222643216842222212224 = 2×364 = 2

∴ H.C.F = 2³ = 8      Answer

Ex:- Find HCF of 96, 232
Solution:-

964824122222232116582912222996 = 2×3232 = 2×2963331

∴ HCF = 2³ = 8        Answer

Ex:- Find the HCF of 390, 1001
Sol:-

390195651323513100114313171113390 = 2×3×5×131001 = 7×11×131

∴ HCF = 13       Answer

Ex:- Find the HCF of 121200, 65824, 19008
Sol:-

15200756003780018900222265824329121645682284114222215200 = 2×11×179450151200 = 2×3×5×747251575525175357123335572111117205718717119008950447522376118859429799331112222223331119008 = 2×3×11

∴ HCF = 2⁵ = 32        Answer

Division Method:-
Suppose we have to find the HCF of two given numbers. Divide the larger number by the smaller one. Now divide the divisor by the remainder. Repeat this recursive process of dividing the preceding by the remainder last obtained till zero is obtained as the remainder. The last divisor is the required HCF.
Finding the HCF of more than two number: Suppose we are to find the HCF of three numbers then HCF of [(HCF of any two numbers) and (the third number0] gives the HCF of three given numbers.
Similarly, the HCF of more than three numbers may be obtained.

Ex:- Find the HCF of 24, 64
Sol:-

24)64(248)162416(18)1616(20HCF∴ HCF = 8 Answer

Ex:- Find the HCF of 96, 132
Sol:-

96)132(196)369672(224)3624(124HCF∴ HCF = 12 Answer12)24(20

Ex:- Find the HCF of 390, 1001
Sol:-

390)1001(1780)221390221(1169)221169(1HCF∴ HCF = 13 Answer52)156(1316913)1331(0

Ex:- Find the HCF of 1512000, 65824, 19008
Sol:-

65824)15120001448128(63872)1(165824638721952)(3263872624641408)1952(11408)54414081088(2)320544320(1224)320224(196)224192(1)3232(1320HCF of 65824, 1512000

now HCF of 32, 19008

32)1900819008(5940now HCF of 32, 19008

∴ HCF of three numbers is 32       Answer

(iii) Difference Method:-
From the given set of numbers take those two numbers whose difference is least. Let this difference be d.
The HCF is either ‘d’ or a number less than d which is a multiple of ‘d’, which divides given numbers exactly.

Ex:- Find HCF of 24, 64
Sol:-

24 644020108521No need to check these Since we already found HCFdivides 24 & 64 exactlyHCF Answer

Ex:- Find HCF of 96, 232
Sol:-

96 23213668348divides 96 & 232 exactly2×2×2×17HCF Answer

Ex:- Find HCF of 390, 1001
Sol:-

390 10016114713divides 390 & 1001 exactly13×47HCF Answer

Ex:- Find HCF of 1512000, 65824, 19008
Sol:-

65824 19008468162×2×2×2×2×7×11×19

by observation, given numbers are multiple of 8 so HCF will also be multiple of 8, move further & we find HCF = 8×2×2 = 32      Answer

Ex:- Find HCF of 184, 230, 276
Sol:-

184 230462×23232divides all three exactlyHCF Answer

Ex:- Find the HCF of 216, 423, 1215, 1422, 2169, 2223
Sol:-
Take two numbers which have least difference.

2169 2223542×3×3×3279HCF Answer

Since sum of digits of each number is divisible by 9 so each number will also be divisible by 9.

Ex:- Find HCF of 960 and 1020
Sol:-

960 1020602×2×3×530HCF AnswerNo need to further calculate

● The HCF of two or more than two numbers is smaller than or equal to the smallest number of given numbers
● The greatest number which divides a,b and c to leave the remainder R is HCF of (a – R), (b – R) and (c – R)
The greatest number which divides x,y,z to leave remainders a,b and c respectively is HCF of (x – a), (y – b) and (z – c)
● 
The HCF of two or moe prime numbers will always be 1.
● HCF of co-prime numbers is 1
● HCF of fraction = \(\frac{\text{HCF of Numerator}}{\text{LCM of Denominator}}\)

Ex:- Find the HCF of \(\frac{{12}}{{25}}\), \(\frac{{9}}{{10}}\), \(\frac{{18}}{{35}}\), \(\frac{{21}}{{40}}\)
Sol:-

12 = 2×2×39 = 3×318 = 2×3×321 = 3×725 = 5×510 = 2×535 = 5×740 = 2×2×2×5

LCM:-
The least number which is exactly divisible by each one of the given numbers is called their LCM.
LCM ⟶ Least common multiple

Ex:- Find LCM of 25, 10, 35, 40
Sol:-

25 5 × 510 2 × 535 5 × 740 2×2×2×5×1400LCM

Ex:- Find LCM of 16, 20
Sol:-

16 2 × 2 ×2 × 220 2 × 2× 5×80LCM

Ex:- Find LCM of 10, 18, 20
Sol:-

10 2 × 518 2 × 3 × 320 2 × 2 × 5 ×180LCM

LCM by division method:-
⟶ First, write the numbers and separate them with commas
⟶Now divide the numbers by the smallest prime number
⟶ If any number is not divisible then write down that number and proceed further
⟶ Keep on dividing the row of numbers by prime numbers unless we get the results as 1 in the complete row
⟶ Now LCM of the numbers will be equal to the product of all the prime numbers we obtained in the division method

Ex:- LCM of 10, 18, 20
Sol:-

2233510 , 18 , 205 9 105 9 55 3 55 1 51 1 1

∴ LCM = 2 ×2 × 3 × 3 × 5 = 180     Answer

Ex:- LCM of 14, 20, 30, 21
Sol:-

2233510 , 18 , 205 9 105 9 55 3 55 1 51 1 1

∴ LCM = 2 × 2 × 3 × 5 × 7 = 420        Answer

Factor Method

14 = 2 × 720 = 2 × 530 = 2 × 3 × 521 = 3 × 7LCM = 2 × 3 × 5 × 7 = 140 Answermax power of eachprime number

● The LCM is always greater than or equal to the larger of the given numbers
● If two numbers are co-prime, their LCM is equal to their product
● The LCM of two or more numbers is divisible by each of the given numbers
● If LCM is divisible by a number A then it will also be divisible by all the factors of number A.
● LCM of two distinct prime numbers is their product
● The HCF of (Sum of Numbers and LCM of Numbers) will also be the HCF of these numbers.

Ex:- The sum and LCM of two numbers are 204 & 864. Find the numbers.
Sol:-

HCF of(204, 864) = HCF of numbers

204)864(481648)204(4192)124848(40HCF

∴ HCF of numbers will be 12
Let numbers are 12a & 12b where a & b are co-prime.
12a + 12b = 204
a + b = 17 ……………..(i)
& LCM = 12ab = 864 ⟹ ab = 72 …………….(ii)
a = 8    b = 9
∴ Numbers are :
12 × 8 = 96
12 × 9 = 108           Answer

● Let two numbers a 7 b then
Product of two numbers = HCF × LCM
● Product of ‘n’ numbers = (HCF)ⁿ⁻¹ × LCM

Ex:- The LCM of 5 numbers is 240 and their HCF is 3. Find the multiplication of all the numbers
Sol:-
multiplication of all numbers = (HCF)⁵⁻¹ × LCM
= (3)⁴ × 240
19440         Answer

● LCM of fraction = \(\frac{{LCM\;of\;Numerator}}{{HCF\;of\;Denominator}}\)
= \(\frac{{LCMof(12,\;20,\;18)}}{{HCFof(25,\;27,\;25)}}\)
= \(\frac{{180}}{1}\)
180        Answer

Ex:- Find LCM of 2.4, 0.36 and 7.2
Sol:-
To calculate the LCM of decimal integers, make the decimal integers into whole numbers multiplying with any friendly numbers i.e. 10, 100, 1000, ………. etc.
Now find out LCM of these whole numbers Finally divide this LCM by that friendly number which we used earlier.

2.4 × 100 240 0.36 × 100 367.2 × 100 72024102×2×2×3= 2×3×52×52×2×3×3= 2×372102×2×2×3×325= 2×3×5

∴ LCM = 2⁴ × 3² × 5 = 720
∴ required LCM = \(\frac{{720}}{{100}}\) = 7.2           Answer

Ex:- Find the LCM of 48, 168, 324 and 1400
Sol:-

222224824126312223716884422171223333241628127913322255140070035017535771

∴ LCM = 2⁴ × 3⁴ × 5² × 7
226800          Answer

Method (2):

4816832414002428 × 332= 2×3424276238423141002710102525= 2×3×7= 3×2= 2×5×7GCD = 2×3×5×7 = 226800 Answer
248 168 324 140022233335524 84 162 70012 42 81 3506 21 81 1753 21 81 1751 7 27 1751 7 9 1751 7 3 1751 7 1 351 7 1 1751 1 1 171 7 1 7Method (3):

∴ LCM = 2⁴ × 3⁴ × 5² × 7 = 226800

Ex:- Find the HCF of 48, 168, 324, 1400
Sol:-

Method (1):

222224824126312223716884422171223333241628127913322255140070035017535771

2² is common in all
∴ HCF=2²=4

Method (2):

481683241400163= 2×34242221378143141002710102525= 2×3×7= 3×2= 2×5×7∴ HCF = 2 = 4 Answer2222222333
Method(3):48)(1681443)24(48482024)32424(138472)1224(242012)1400(116122 0128 0728)(1284)8(8012HCFAnswer
Method (4):48 168 324 1400120156362×2×3×3181294divides allHCF AnswerNote: This method is useful when options are given.

Ex:- Find the least number which when divided by 48, 18, 42, 72 leaves the remainder 41, 11, 35, 65 respectively.
Sol:-
In this tye of question the difference between the divisor & the corresponding remainder is same in each case
48 – 41 = 7,     18 – 11 = 7,            42 – 35 = 7,       72 – 65 = 7
∴ required number = LCM of (48, 18, 42, 72) – 5

481842722323237418232

∴ LCM = 2⁴ × 3² × 7 = 1008
∴ required number = 1008 – 7 = 1001       Answer

Ex:- Find the greatest number which is such that when 12288, 19139 and 28200 are divided by it, the remainder are all the same.
Sol:-
In this type of question, first find out the difference of these numbers & then find HCF of the numbers found out in differences

12288282001913968519061Now find the HCF of (6851, 9061) which will be the required numberTo find HCF of (6851, 9061)6851)(906168512210)(6851663013211)22102210(100Answe HCF

Concept:- If two numbers have the same remainder when divided by a divisor, then their difference is divisible by that divisor.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions on LCM and HCF

Q1. What is HCF and LCM and what is the difference between them?

The HCF or Highest Common Factor of two or more numbers is the greatest number that divides each of them exactly without leaving any remainder. The LCM or Least Common Multiple is the smallest number that is exactly divisible by each of the given numbers. HCF is always less than or equal to the smallest of the given numbers while LCM is always greater than or equal to the largest of the given numbers. For any two numbers the product of the numbers equals the product of their HCF and LCM.

Q2. What are the three methods to find HCF?

There are three methods to find HCF. First is the factorization method where you express each number as a product of prime factors and then take the product of the least powers of common prime factors. Second is the division method where you divide the larger number by the smaller, then divide the divisor by the remainder and keep repeating until remainder is zero — the last divisor is the HCF. Third is the difference method where you find the difference of the two closest numbers in the set and check which factor of that difference divides all given numbers. All three methods are explained with solved examples on this page. Understanding Factors concept helps in using the factorization method faster.

Q3. What is the relationship between LCM, HCF and product of two numbers?

For any two numbers a and b, the product of the two numbers equals the product of their HCF and LCM. So a multiplied by b equals HCF multiplied by LCM. This is one of the most important and frequently tested properties in competitive exams. For more than two numbers the relationship is different — product of n numbers equals HCF raised to the power n minus 1 multiplied by LCM. This concept is closely linked to Divisibility and Factors topics.

Q4. How do you find LCM and HCF of fractions?

For fractions, HCF equals HCF of all numerators divided by LCM of all denominators. LCM of fractions equals LCM of all numerators divided by HCF of all denominators. For example HCF of 12 over 25, 9 over 10 and 18 over 35 requires finding HCF of numerators 12, 9 and 18 which is 3, and LCM of denominators 25, 10 and 35 which is 350. So HCF of fractions is 3 over 350. This type of question appears regularly in SSC CGL and Bank PO exams alongside Simplification problems.

Q5. How do you find the least number that leaves same remainder when divided by given numbers?

When the question asks for the least number that when divided by given numbers leaves the same remainder in each case, find the LCM of all the given numbers and then add the remainder to the LCM. If the difference between each divisor and its corresponding remainder is the same value d, then the required number is LCM of the divisors minus d. For example if a number when divided by 48, 18, 42 and 72 leaves remainders 41, 11, 35 and 65 respectively, the difference is 7 in each case, so the answer is LCM of 48, 18, 42, 72 minus 7. This concept uses both LCM and the Remainder Theorem together.

Q6. How do you find the greatest number that divides given numbers leaving same remainder?

When the question asks for the greatest number that divides all given numbers leaving the same remainder, find the differences between all pairs of given numbers and then find the HCF of all those differences. That HCF is the required greatest divisor. For example to find the greatest number that divides 12288, 19139 and 28200 leaving the same remainder, find differences 6851 and 9061, then find HCF of 6851 and 9061 which is the answer. This type of word problem is one of the most commonly asked in SSC CGL, Bank PO and GMAT exams.

Q7. Which competitive exams ask LCM and HCF questions?

LCM and HCF questions are asked in SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Bank PO, Bank Clerk, Railway RRB, UPSC CSAT, CAT, MAT and all major Indian competitive exams. This topic is also tested in GMAT, GRE, SAT, AMCAT, eLitmus, TCS NQT and all campus placement aptitude tests worldwide. Word problems based on LCM and HCF are particularly common in SSC CGL and Bank PO. Related topics to study alongside are Factors, Divisibility and Remainder Theorem.

Q8. How can I practice LCM and HCF questions for competitive exams?

After understanding all LCM and HCF methods and properties you can practice on our Exercise on LCM and HCF page which contains a large number of solved practice questions covering all types of LCM and HCF problems asked in SSC CGL, Bank PO, Railway RRB, GMAT, AMCAT, eLitmus and TCS NQT exams. You may also want to study the related topics of Factors, Divisibility and Remainder Theorem to strengthen your complete number theory preparation. All questions come with detailed step by step solutions and everything is completely free with no registration required.