HCF
Highest Common Factor
Different naming conventions
UK (like Edexcel) HCF – Highest Common Factor
USA / Canada GCF – Greatest Common Factor
Computer science / University GCD – Greatest Common Divisor
Success Criteria for HCF Lesson :
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
● Understand the meaning of HCF as the greatest number that divides two or more numbers
exactly.
● Find factors of given numbers accurately, and idea of prime factors
● Use different methods to find the HCF:
○ Prime factorization
○ Division (ladder) method
○ Euler’s Method(optional)
● Apply HCF to solve a variety of real-life and word problems (e.g., grouping, cutting, arranging).
● Present working clearly with correct mathematical steps.
What is factors of number?
And prime factors?
In simple terms, if A is divisible by B without any reminder and fraction,then
B is factor of A.
if B is prime number , then we call B as prime factor
Example:
● 21 ÷ 3 = 7 → No remainder → ✅ So, 7 is a prime factor of 21
● 12 ÷ 5 = 2.4 → Has a fraction → ❌ So, 5 is not a factor of 12
● 12 ÷ 3 = 4 → No remainder → ✅ So, 3 is a factor of 12
Let’s do little warm-up
Find all the prime factors of 56
Let’s do little warm-up
Find all the factors of 56.
Can you tell me what pattern you see on them?
1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 16, 28, 56
Prime factorization
Prime factorization is notation of writing prime factors using powers (indices)
when a prime factor repeats.
Example : 24
24=2 × 2 × 2 × 3
24 = 2³ × 3
Let’s do some interesting exercise
Pyramid of numbers
What is HCF
HCF- Highest Common Factor
Existing maximum and common number that you can divide two or multiple
numbers at the same time
Prime Factorization method
Example: Find HCF of 18 and 24
Factorise each number:
Prime Factorization method
Example: Find HCF of 18 and 24
Prime factorise each number:
18 = 2 × 3²
24 = 2³ × 3
Common prime factors (take lowest powers):
- Both have 2 → 2¹
- Both have 3 → 3¹
Final step:
HCF = 2 × 3 = 6
Ladder
Co-prime numbers
Simply, co-prime numbers means , HCF of these numbers is 1
HCF (5 , 7 ) = 1
HCF (10 , 17)=1
If there are two or more distinct prime numbers in the interested list of
numbers, so their HCF is always 1.
HCF(13 , 17, …)=1
Optimization tips
It is best practise to check numbers whether there are multiple of each other or
, test for if there are co-prime numbers before diving into long calculations.
HCF (14,70 ) =
HCF (7,14)=
HCF(13,42)=
HCF(13,26,7)=
Quick Summary
● HCF - highest common factor
● Factors of number - 56 => 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14,28, 56 , what pattern you see on
them?
● Prime factorization form -56 =2³ × 7
● HCF(56,32)
56 =2³ × 7
32 =25 take common and the lowest powers
HCF(56,32)=23
● HCF(13,26,7)=
Eulers method
Thank you for your attention
