Highest Common Factor (HCF) Example :

The highest common factor is the largest common factor
between two numbers
• This is useful when simplifying fractions or
factorising expressions
How do I find the highest common factor (HCF) of two
numbers?
1) Find the highest common factor of 42 and 90.
Write as a product of prime factors
42 = 2 × 3 × 7
90 = 2 × 3 × 3 × 5
Write the prime factors in a Venn diagram if needed.

• Write each number as a product of its prime factors

• Find the prime factors that are common to both
numbers
o Be careful with how many times a prime factor
appears
! 12 = 2 × 2 × 3 and 10 = 2 × 5
! So only one of the 2s is a common prime Multiply the common prime factors.
factor
• Multiply the common prime factors together HCF = 2 × 3
• Using a Venn diagram can help
o Put the common prime factors in the centre HCF = 6
o Put the other prime factors in the relevant circles
o The HCF is the product of all the numbers in the
centre
Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) Example :

• The lowest common multiple is the smallest common Find the lowest common multiple of 42 and 90.
multiple between two numbers
o This is useful when adding or subtracting fractions Write as a product of prime factors.

How do I find the lowest common multiple (LCM) of two numbers? 42 = 2 × 3 × 7

90 = 2 × 3 × 3 × 5
• Write each number as a product of its prime factors
• Find the prime factors of the first number that are not Write the prime factors in a Venn diagram if needed.
prime factors of the second number
o Be careful with how many times a prime factor
appears
! 12 = 2 × 2 × 3 and 10 = 2 × 5
! So 3 and one of the 2s are not prime
factors of the 10
! Equivalently 5 is not a prime factor of 12
• Multiply the first number by these extra prime factors
o Either multiply 10 by 3 and 2
o Or multiply 12 by 5 Multiply all the prime factors.
o Both ways will give you the same answer
• Using a Venn diagram can help LCM = 7 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5
o Put the common prime factors in the centre
o Put the other prime factors in the relevant circles
= 630
o The LCM is the product of all the numbers in the
Venn diagram
Find the HCF and LCM of the numbers below

1) 12 and 10 5) 50 and 15

2) 6 and 15 6) 45 and 20

3) 6 and 9 7) 40 and 18

4) 17 and 51 8) 16 and 36
9) 1440 and 505 13) 𝟑𝟕𝟖𝟎 = 𝟐^𝟐×𝟑^𝟑×𝟓×𝟕
𝟑𝟐𝟒𝟎 = 𝟐^𝟑×𝟑^𝟒×𝟓

10) 18,14 and 6

14) q is an integer. The lowest common

multiple of q and 12 is 120.

11) 𝟐𝟒 × 𝟑×𝟕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟓𝟔

12) 150, 40 and 35