Chapter 3

Playing with
Numbers

Photo courtesy : Unsplash

After this lesson you
will learn
Fundamental concepts of calculation.

Basic number systems and their properties.

Application based on real life.

Very Important
Mildly Important
Important
None General
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Compendium
A. Introduction
B. Factors and multiples
(i)Properties of factors
(ii)Properties of multiples
(iii)Even and odd numbers
(iv)Perfect numbers
C. Prime and composite numbers
(i)Types of prime numbers

D. Tests of divisibility
(i)Properties of divisibility

(ii)Divisibility of sum of numbers

(iii)Divisibility of difference of numbers

(iv)Method to check if a number is prime

E. Prime factorisation
F. Highest common factor
G. Least common multiple
H. Properties of HCF and LCM
I. Bird’s-eye view
J. Solved examples
K. Practice yourself
L. Solutions

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A. Introduction

Kevin’s uncle gave him 24 cupcakes to distribute among his friends.

This means Kevin has 24 ÷ 1 = 24 cupcakes. He wants to distribute it
equally among 4 children. How will he do that?

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Total cake (24) No. of friends No. of cake each
person got

4 Cakes

3 Cakes

2 Cakes

24 ÷ 4 = 6 i.e., 24 = 4 x 6

Now what if 4 more children come to his place?

24 ÷ 8 = 3 i.e., 24 = 8 x 3

Suppose 4 more children visit his place at the same time.

24 ÷ 12 = 2 i.e., 24 = 12 x 2

From the above calculation, we can observe that 24 can be

represented as a product of two numbers in a lot of different ways.
This means that the numbers 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12 are exact divisor of 24.
They are called factors of 24.

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B. Factors and multiples
A factor of a given number is a number that divides the given
number completely i.e., with remainder zero. In the given table, the
first column shows two factors multiplied together. The second
column shows the products of the two factors.
The third column shows the two division facts for each product. The
product divided by any one of the factors does not leave a remainder.
The table shows that 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 are factors of the
number 24.
From the table, it is clear that number 24 is a multiple of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6,
8, 12 or 24.
In general, if a number a divide a number b exactly, then a is called
the factor of b, and b is said to be a multiple of a.

Factors Product Division

Mental floss!
24 ÷ 1 = 24
1 × 24 24 The numbers that divides a
24 ÷ 24 = 1
given number exactly are
24 ÷ 2 = 12 called its factors.
2 × 12 24
24 ÷ 12 = 2 The numbers obtained by
multiplying a given number
24 ÷3 = 8
3×8 24 by whole numbers are
24 ÷ 8 = 3
called its multiples.
24 ÷ 4 = 6
4×6 24
24 ÷ 6 = 4

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(i) Properties of factors

• Every natural number can be perfectly divided by 1. It means 1 is a

factor of every number.
• Any natural number can be divided by itself completely. It means
every number is a factor of itself.
• The above properties imply that every natural number other than 1
has a minimum of two factors — the number itself and 1.
• 1 is the only natural number which has exactly one factor, namely
itself.
• If two numbers a and b are factors of each other, then a = b.
• A factor of a natural number cannot be greater than the number
itself.
• A number can be a factor of many numbers. For example, 13 is a
factor of 13,26,39, 52 and other multiples of 13.

(ii) Properties of multiples

• Every number is a multiple of each of its factors.

• Every number is a multiple of 1 and itself.
• A number can be a multiple of several different numbers. For
example, 12 is a multiple of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12.
• A multiple of a natural number is always greater than or equal to
the number itself.
(iii) Even and odd numbers

Numbers like 2, 4, 6, 8, ... which are completely divisible by 2 are called

even numbers.

Numbers like 1, 3, 5, 7, ... which are not completely divisible by 2 are

called odd numbers.

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Mental floss!

All numbers having 2 as a factor are called even numbers. All

the numbers which do not have 2 as a factor are called odd
numbers.

(iv) Perfect numbers

If all the factors of a number add up to twice the number then the
number is said to be a perfect number.

1, 2, 3 and 6 are factors of 6. The sum of the factors 1, 2, 3 and 6 is 12

which is twice the number 6. Such numbers are called perfect
numbers.

Checkpoint 1

1. Write the factors of the following.

(i)36 (ii)75 (iii) 120 (iv) 200 (v) 320

2. Write the first six multiples of 7, 9, 12, 20, 50 and 110.

3. How many odd number s are found between 1301 and 1325?
4. How many even numbers are found between 2500 and 2600?

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C. Prime and composite numbers

A natural number having factors only as 1 and the number itself

is called a prime number.
A natural number that is not prime is composite.

To find numbers that have: (a) only one factor (b) only two factors (c)
more than two factors:

Number Factors Number of factors

1 1 1
2 1, 2 2
3 1, 3 2
4 1, 2, 4 3
5 ……… ………
6 ……… ………
7 ……… ………
8 ……… 3
9 1, 3, 9 ………
10 ……… ………

Number Factors Number of factors

11 ……… ………
12 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 6
13 ……… ………
14 ……… ………
15 ……… ………
16 ……… ………
17 1, 17 2
18 ……… ………
19 ……… ………
20 ……… ………

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• The number 1 is neither prime nor composite. It is a unique

number.
• The numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17 and 19 which have only two factors,
1 and the number itself, are called prime numbers.
• The numbers 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 which have more
than two factors are called composite numbers.
• All prime numbers, except 2, are odd. The only even prime
number is 2.

Sieve of Eratosthenes

Eratosthenes, a Greek mathematician who lived in the third century

BCE discovered a method of finding prime numbers by shifting away
all the numbers that are not prime. This method is called the Sieve
of Eratosthenes.

You can use the sieve to discover all prime numbers less than 100 in
the following way.

• Cross out 1 as it is neither a prime nor a composite number.

• Encircle the prime number 2 and cross out every second
number. This means that you have crossed out all multiples of 2.
• Encircle the next uncrossed number 3 and cross out every third
number. This means that you have crossed out all multiplies of 3.
• Encircle the next uncrossed number 5 and cross out every fifth
number. This means that you have crossed out all multiples of 5.
• Encircle the next uncrossed number 7 and cross out all multiples
of 7.
• Continue till all numbers are either encircled or crossed out.

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The encircled numbers are prime numbers. The crossed-out
numbers are composite numbers.

Types of prime numbers

A pair of prime numbers that have only one composite number

between them are called twin primes. 3 and 5, 5 and 7 and 17 and 19
are some examples of twin primes.

Coprime numbers are pairs of numbers that do not share any

common factor except for 1.

9 and 10 are coprime numbers. 9 has factors: 1,3,9, whereas factors of

10 are 1,2,5,10. Since the only common factor between 9 and 10 is 1 they
are coprime.

Remember this!

Coprime numbers are numbers that do not have any

common factor other than 1.

Twin primes are a pair of prime numbers differing by 2.

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Checkpoint 2

1. State if the statements are true or false.

(i)When a number is divided by its factor, no remainder is left.
(ii) A number can be a multiple of only one number.
(iii) Prime numbers do not have any factors.
(iv) If b is a multiple of a, then b ≥ a.
(v) Twin primes are pairs of prime numbers that do not have any
composite number between them.
(vi) 1 is the smallest prime number.
2. Can you express 4 as a sum of two odd numbers?
3. Express the following even numbers as a sum of two prime
numbers.
(i) 8 (ii) 10 (iii) 20 (iv)30 (v) 36
4. Give five prime numbers from 1–100 which can be expressed as the
sum of two prime numbers.
5. Which is the largest prime number less than 100?

D. Tests of divisibility
Let us review the rules of divisibility learnt in the earlier classes.

Divisibility by 2

If the unit's digit of a number is 0 or an even number then

the number is divisible by 2.

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4,68,040 and 4326 are divisible by 2; 4,68,041 and 4339 are not divisible
by 2.

Divisibility by 4

If the number formed by the last two digits of a number is

divisible by 4, then the number is divisible by 4.

300 and 632 are divisible by 4; 8313 and 48,686 are not divisible by 4.

Divisibility by 8

If a number ends in three zeros, or if the last three digits of

the number is divisible by 8, then the number is divisible by 8.

3,000 and 38,144 are divisible by 8; 73,167 and 4,38,340 are not
divisible by 8

Divisibility by 5

If units place digit of a number is 0 or 5, it is divisible by 5.

875 and 80 are divisible by 5; 63,877 and 832 are not divisible by 5.

Divisibility by 10

If the digit at the units’ place of a number is 0, it is divisible

by 10.

360 and 54,63,900 are divisible by 10; 8365 and 54,63,908 are not

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divisible by 10.

Divisibility by 3

If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by 3, the

number is divisible by 3.

6732: The sum of 6, 7, 3 and 2 is 18, which is divisible by 3. Therefore,

6732 is divisible by 3.
5438: The sum of 5, 4, 3 and 8 is 20, which is not divisible by 3.
Therefore, 5438 is not divisible by 3.

Divisibility by 6
If a number is even, and is divisible by 3, it is divisible by 6.

4536 is even. The sum of 4, 5, 3 and 6 is 18, which is divisible by 3.

Therefore, 4536 is divisible by 6.
3824 is even but the sum of 3, 8, 2 and 4 is 17, which is not divisible
by 3.
Therefore, 3824 is not divisible by 6.

Divisibility by 9

If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by 9, the

number is divisible by 9.

68,769: The sum of 6, 8, 7, 6 and 9 is 36, which is divisible by 9. ∴

68,769 is divisible by 9.

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Divisibility by 11

If the difference between the sum of digits in the odd-

numbered places (starting from the ones place) and the sum
of digits in even-numbered places is either 0 or a multiple of
11, the number is divisible by 11.

Try and learn

(i) Consider the number 7,65,87,853.

Sum of digits in the odd-numbered places = 3 + 8 + 8 + 6 = 25 (starting
from one’s place)
Sum of digits in the even-numbered places = 5 + 7 + 5 + 7 = 24
Difference between the two = 25 – 24 = 1
Therefore, 7,65,87,853 is not divisible by 11.
(ii) Consider the number 50,49,78,639.
Sum of digits in the odd-numbered places = 9 + 6 + 7 + 4 + 5 = 31
Sum of digits in the even-numbered places = 3 + 8 + 9 + 0 = 20
Difference between the two = 31 – 20 = 11

Since 11 divides 11, 50,49,78,639 is a multiple of 11.

Checkpoint 3

1. Check divisibility of the given numbers by 2, 4, 8, 5 and 10. Put a (P)

for divisible and a (O) for not divisible.

Number 2 4 8 5 10

(i) 128

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(ii) 572

(iii) 990

(iv) 1586

2. Check divisibility of the given numbers by 3, 6, 9 and 11. Put a (P)

for divisible and a (O) for not divisible.

Number 3 6 9 11

(i) 1258

(ii) 5335

(iii) 21,084

(iv) 71,232

3. The product of any three consecutive numbers is always divisible

by 6. Give examples. Why is this so?
4. If two numbers are coprime, does one of them have to be a prime
number? Justify your answer with examples.

(i) Properties of divisibility

A study of the general properties of divisibility helps in

understanding the divisibility rules better, and to make divisibility
rules for other numbers.
Divisibility by factors

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If a number is divisible by another number, it is also divisible by
each of the factors of that number.
For example, 24 is divisible by 12.
The factors of 12 are 2, 3, 4 and 6. Therefore, 24 is divisible by 2, 3, 4
and 6.
Divisibility by product of coprime factors
If a number has two or more coprime factors, then the number is
divisible by the product of the coprime factors.
For example, 2, 5 and 7 are factors of 70. 70 is divisible by 10 (2 × 5), 14
(2 × 7) and 35 (5 × 7)
The divisibility rule of 6 is derived from this property. Since 2 and 3
are coprime factors of 6, a number that is divisible by both 2 and 3
is also divisible by 6.

Try and learn

Example 1: Is 25,110 divisible by 45?

Solution: 5 and 9 are coprime factors of 45. 25110 is divisible by 5 since

it ends in 0. 25110 is divisible by 9 since 2 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 0 = 9, which is
divisible by 9.

∴ 25,110 is divisible by 45.

E. Divisibility of sum of numbers

If a number is a factor of two given numbers, it is also a factor of
the sum of the two numbers. In other words, if a is a factor of both
b and c, then a is a factor of (b + c).
For example, 5 is a factor of both 20 and 35. Therefore, 5 is factor of 55
which is the sum of (20 + 35).

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It is easy to prove this property by using the distributive property of
multiplication over addition.

55 = 20 + 35

=5×4+5×7

= 5 × (4 + 7) = 5 × 11

Hence 5 is a factor of 55.

The divisibility rules of 4 and 8 are based on this property.

c. Divisibility of difference of numbers
If a number is a factor of two given numbers, it is also a factor of
the difference of the two numbers. In other words, if a is a factor
of both b and c, then a is a factor of (b – c).
For example, since 5 is a factor of both 20 and 35, 5 is also a factor of
15 which is the difference of (35 – 20).

F. Method to check if a number is prime

To test if a number is prime, test its divisibility by smaller prime
numbers. Consider the number 97. Let us divide 97 by prime
numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13.
97 ÷ 2 gives quotient 48 and remainder 1
97 ÷ 3 gives quotient 32 and remainder 1
97 ÷ 5 gives quotient 19 and remainder 2
97 ÷ 7 gives quotient 13 and remainder 6
97 ÷ 11 gives quotient 8 and remainder 9

Since the quotient 8 is smaller than the next prime number 13, the
division can be stopped at 11. Since 97 is not exactly divisible by all
prime numbers up to 11, it is prime.

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Try and learn

Example 2 Identify if 401 is a prime number.

Solution 401 is not divisible by 2, 3, 5 and 11 (divisibility rule)

401 ÷ 7 gives quotient 57 and remainder 2
401 ÷ 13 gives quotient 30 and remainder 11
401 ÷ 17 gives quotient 23 and remainder 10
401 ÷ 19 gives quotient 21 and remainder 2
The quotient obtained here is smaller than the next prime number 23

Since 401 is not exactly divisible by all prime numbers up to 19, it is

prime.

Checkpoint 4

1. State if the given statements are true or false.

(i) If a number is divisible by 13, it is also divisible by 26.
(ii) If a number is divisible by 26, it is also divisible by 13.
(iii) If a number is divisible by 7, it is also divisible by 14.
(iv) If a number is divisible by 14, it is also divisible by 7.
2. A number which is a factor of two numbers is given below. Show
that this number is also a factor of the sum of the two numbers as
well as factor of the difference of the two numbers.

(i) 3 is a factor of 234 and 54. (ii) 4 is a factor of 116 and 84.

(iii) 5 is a factor of 60 and 35 (iv) 6 is a factor of 72 and 60.

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E. Prime factorisation

Factoring a number means expressing it as a product of its

factors.

Given below are four methods of factorising 48.

48

2 24

2 is prime 24 is composite

48

6 8

Both 6 and 8 are composite

48

4 12

Both 4 and 12 are composite

48

3 16
×

3 is prime 16 composite

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All the composite numbers can be factorised further as shown below.
The encircled numbers are prime factors. The factorisation is
continued till all the factors are prime.

A factorisation of a number in which every factor is prime is called

the prime factorisation of the number.

4 = 2 × 24 4 = 3 × 16
8 8
2 24 3

16
3

2 12 8
2

2 6 4
2

2 3 2 2

48 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 48 = 3 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2

4 = 4 × 12
8 4
8
4 12
6 8

2 6
2 2 2 4
2 3

2 3
2 2

48 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 48 = 6 x 8

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The number 48 has been completely factorised. It has been
expressed as a product of prime factors. Note that all combinations
give the same set of prime factors.

There is only one way of factorizing a composite number in terms of

its prime factors except for the order in which the factors can be
written. This is called the prime factorisation property. This is also
known as the fundamental theorem of arithmetic.
Prime factorisation can be done by repeated division, by prime
numbers, as shown below.

Pro-tip!

Prime factorisation of a number means expressing the number

as a product of its prime factors.

Try and learn

Example 3: Find the prime factors of 840.

Solution 840 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 7

2 840
2 420
2 210
3 105
5 35
7

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Checkpoint 5

1. Complete the following factor trees and write down the prime
factors of each number.

150 84 9
0

2. Determine the prime factors of each of the following.

(i) 12

(ii) 34

(iii) 56

(iv) 98

3. In which of the following examples are prime factorisation done

correctly? Correct the wrong ones.

(i) 24 = 4 × 3 × 2 (ii) 56 = 7 × 2 × 2 × 2

(iii) 54 = 3 × 3 × 7 (iv) 70 = 7 × 2 × 5

4. Find out the prime factors of the following numbers. Pick out those
factors that are coprime to each other. Find their product. Check to
see if this product divides the number without leaving a remainder.

(i) 24 (ii) 54 (iii) 58 (iv) 63

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F. Highest common factor
The highest common factor (HCF) is the greatest number which
divides two or more numbers without a remainder. Let us
understand this through the activity given below.

Give a thought:

To find the HCF

Let us find the HCF of the numbers 30 and 54.

• Write the factors of 30 on the top arm of the letter F.

• Write the factors of 54 on the 2nd arm.
• The common factors of 30 and 54 are: 1, 2, 3, 6.
• The highest is 6.
• Therefore, the HCF of 30 and 54 is 6.

30: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30

54: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 18, 27, 54

Pro-tip!

The highest common factor (HCF) of two or more numbers is

the greatest among their common factors.

The prime factor method is used to find the HCF of small numbers.
However, to find the HCF of large numbers, successive division
method is used.

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Try and learn

Example 4: Find the HCF of 88, 60 and 36.

Solution
2 88 2 60
2 44 2 30
2 22 3 15
11 5

2 36
2 18
88 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 11 3 9
60 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 5 3
36 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3

HCF is the product of lowest powers of the common prime factors.

Therefore, HCF is (2 × 2) = 4
Example 5: Find the HCF of 762 and 1270.
Solution: Divide the bigger number by the smaller number. The
remainder 508 is called the first remainder.
• Divide the first divisor 762 by the first remainder 508 to get the
second remainder 254.
• Divide the first remainder 508 by the second remainder 254.
Continue this until the remainder obtained is 0. The divisor in the
last step is the HCF of the two given numbers.

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762 1270 1
The HCF is 254.

762

508 762 1
508
254 508 2
508
0
Example 6: Find the HCF of 540,
9468 and 10,200.
Solution:
• First find HCF of 540 and 9468.
• The HCF is 36.
• Now find the HCF of 36 and 10,200.
• The HCF is 12.
540 9468 17
9180
36 10200 283 288 540 1
10180 288
12 36 3 252 288 1
36 252
0 36 252 7
252
Therefore, the HCF of 540, 0
9468, 10200 is 12.

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Example 7: Find the greatest number that can divide 11,296 and 13,528,
leaving remainders 11 and 23 respectively.

Solution: The given number – remainder = 11,296 – 11 = 11,285

The given number – remainder = 13,528 – 23 = 13,505
The greatest number that can divide both is the HCF of 11,285 and
13,505.
11285 13505 1
11285
2220 11285 5
11100
185 2220 12
2220
0

The HCF is 185.

289
Example 8: Reduce to the lowest terms.
408

Solution: The HCF of 289 and 408 is 17. To reduce to the lowest terms,
divide the numerator and the denominator by their HCF 17.

289 408 1
289
289 289÷17 17
= = 119 289 2
408 408÷17 24
238
51 119 2
102
17 51 3
51
0

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Example 9: An oil merchant has 90 litres of oil in one drum and 81
litres in another drum. What is the capacity of the largest container
that can be used to completely empty the oil in the drums in exact
number of times?
Solution: The largest number that divides both 90 and 81 exactly will
be their HCF. The HCF of 90 and 81 is 9.

Hence the capacity of the container is 9 litres.

81 90 1
81
9 81 9
81
0

Checkpoint 6

1. Find the HCF by prime factorisation method.

(i) 225, 315 (ii) 144, 198 (iii) 170, 238 (iv) 490, 540
2. Find the HCF by the division method.
(i) 684, 513 (ii) 603, 670 (iii) 612, 522 (iv) 300, 450
(v) 935, 1320
3. Find the largest divisor which divides the following numbers to
give the required remainder in each case.
(i) 47, 80, 124: remainder 3 (ii) 112, 75, 186: remainder 1
(iii) 355, 605, 555: remainder 5 (iv)550, 955, 1255: remainder 10
4. Find the HCF of:
(i) Two consecutive numbers.
(ii) Two numbers which are coprime.

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G. Least common multiple

The least common multiple (LCM) of two or more numbers is the
least number which is perfectly divisible by each of the given
numbers.
The least common multiple (LCM) of two or more numbers is the
smallest number (not zero) that is a multiple of all the numbers. Let us
understand this through the activity given below.

To find the LCM

Let us find the LCM of the numbers 15 and 24.

• Write the multiples of 15 on one arm of the letter M.

• Write the multiples of 24 on the 2nd arm.
• The first common multiple will be the least.
• The least common multiple or the LCM of 15 and 24 is 120.

15 24
15 × 2 → 30 48 ← 24 × 2
15 × 3 → 45 72 ← 24 × 3
15 × 4 → 60 96 ← 24 × 4
15 × 5 → 75 ← 24 × 5
120
15 × 6 → 90
15 × 7 → 105
15 × 8 → 120

The prime factorisation method is used to find the LCM of small

numbers. However, to find the LCM of large numbers, division method
is used.

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Try and learn

Example 10: Find the LCM of 8, 24 and 36.

Solution:
The prime factors of 8 = 2 × 2 × 2= 23
The prime factors of 24 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 = 23 × 3
The prime factors of 36 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 22 x 32

∴ LCM = 23 × 32 = 8 × 9 = 72

Prime factors Highest power

2 3

3 2

Example 11: Find the LCM of 72, 96 and 160.

Solution:
• Write the numbers as shown. Divide all numbers by a prime
number which divides at least two of the numbers.
• Write the quotient in each case below the number. If a number
cannot be divided exactly, write the number as it is.
• Keep dividing by prime numbers until the last row has coprime
numbers with no common factors.
• Multiply all divisors, and all numbers left in the last row. The
product gives the LCM of the given numbers.

LCM = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5 = 1440

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2 72, 96, 160

2 36, 48, 80
2 18, 24, 40
2 9, 12, 20
2 9, 6, 10
3 9, 3, 5
3, 1, 5

Example 12: What is the smallest number, which when divided

separately by 15, 20 and 48, will in each case leave 9 as a remainder?

Solution: The smallest number divisible by 15, 20 and 48 is their LCM.

Therefore, the smallest number which when divided by 15, 20 and 48

leaves a remainder 9 in each case, is LCM + 9.

The LCM of 15, 20 and 48 is 3 × 5 × 4 × 4 = 240

Therefore, the required number is 240 + 9 = 249

Checkpoint 7

1. Find the LCM of the following by prime factorisation method.

(i) 8, 20 (ii) 20, 32

(iii) 40, 50 (iv)30, 36, 40

(v) 12, 20, 24

2. Find the LCM of the following by the division method.

(i) 42, 63 (ii) 18, 77 (iii) 60, 75 (iv) 48, 60, 80 (v) 30, 54, 63

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H. Properties of HCF and LCM
Some important properties of HCF and LCM are as follows.
(i) The HCF of a set of numbers cannot be greater than any of the
numbers.
In other words, the HCF of a set of numbers is always smaller than or
equal to the smallest number.
(ii) The LCM of a set of numbers cannot be less than any of the
numbers.
In other words, the LCM of a set of numbers is always greater than or
equal to the largest of the numbers.
(iii) If the HCF of two numbers is equal to one of the numbers, then
the LCM is equal to the other number.
(iv) The HCF of two coprime numbers is 1.

For example, the HCF of5 and 7 is 1; HCF of 29 and 31 is 1.

(v) The LCM of two coprime numbers is equal to their product.

This is because coprime numbers do not have any common factor

except 1.

For example, LCM of 5 and 7 is 5 × 7. = 35; LCM of 29 and 31 is 29 × 31.

= 899

(vi) The HCF of a set of numbers is always a factor of their LCM This
is because the HCF is a factor of each of the given numbers, and each
of the given numbers is a factor of the LCM.

For example, consider 12 and 20.

The HCF of 12 and 20 is 4 and the LCM of 12 and 20 is 60. Notice that
4 is a factor of 60.

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(vii) Product of two numbers = Product of their HCF and LCM

For example, the HCF of 12 and 20 is 4. The LCM of12 and 20 is 60.

The product of12 and 20 = 21 × 20. = 240

The product of their HCF and LCM =4 × 60 = 240

Thus, product of any two numbers = Product of their HCF and LCM.

Checkpoint 8

1. Using the relevant property, fill in the blanks in the given table.

First Second HCF LCM Product of

number number number

(i) 12 16 … 48 …

(ii) 45 … 1 90 90

(iii) … 32 4 96 …

(iv) 14 … … 98 686

(v) 18 27 … … …

2. The HCF of two numbers a and b is 1. What is their LCM?

3. The LCM of two numbers is 210 and their HCF is 10. If one of the
numbers is 30, what is the other number?
4. Can two numbers have the following HCF and LCM?

(i) HCF = 20 and LCM = 535

(ii) HCF = 15 and LCM = 525

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Mental floss!

Finding HCF

• Draw a rectangle 24 × 18 on a grid paper. Cut off the biggest square

from this sheet. The biggest square will be of size 18 × 18. You now
have a rectangle left over of size 6 × 18.
• From that rectangle, cut off the biggest square. This square will be
of size 6 × 6. The remaining rectangle will be of size 6 × 12.

• Keep repeating the process, till you are left with the last piece
which should also be a square.
• The dimension of the last square that is left over is the HCF of 24
and 18. A square of dimension 6 is left over. Therefore, HCF is 6.

• Each time you cut off a square from the rectangle, you are left with
a rectangle from which you can again cut off a square, until you
are finally left with only a square.

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Bird’s-eye view
• A factor of a number divides the number perfectly( remainder is
zero).
• A game about the spotting factor is given in this section. It is a must
try as it will help students learn in detail about factors.
• A number is a multiple of its every factor.
• Every number is a factor of itself.
• 1 is a common factor of every number
• Factors of a given number are finite.
• Every number is a multiple of itself
• Multiples of a given number are infinite.

• The numbers having factors as 1 and the number itself are

called prime numbers.
• Composite numbers are numbers having more than two factors.
• 1 is neither prime nor a composite number.
• The smallest prime number is 2.
• Every prime number except 2 is odd.
• Tests for divisibility of numbers: Divisibility tests of the following
numbers are discussed:
• Divisibility by 10 : A number is divisible by 10 if the last digit of the
number is 0
• Divisibility by 5 : For a number to be divisible by 5 the number's
last digit should be 0 or 5.
• Divisibility by 2 : For a number to be divisible by 2 the digit at unit
place should either be 0 or a multiple of 2
• Divisibility by 3 : Numbers are divisible by 3 if the sum of all the

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individual digits is evenly divisible by 3.
• Divisibility by 6 : Numbers are evenly divisible by 6 if they are
evenly divisible by both 2 and 3.
• Divisibility by 4 : If the number formed by the last two individual
digits is evenly divisible by 4.
• Divisibility by 8 : For a number to be divisible by 8 the number
formed by the last three digits should be divisible by 8.
• Divisibility by 9 : For a number to be divisible by 9, the sum of its
digits should be divisible by 9.
• Divisibility by 11 : For a number to be divisible by 11 the difference
between the sum of the odd numbered digits and sum of even
numbered digits should be divisible by 11.
• "Prime Factorization" is breaking down a number as a product of
its prime factors.
• The HCF of two or more numbers is the greatest of their common
factors.
• The LCM of two or more numbers is the least of their common
multiples.

Solved examples

Example 13 : The HCF of two numbers is 16 and their LCM is 192. If one
of the numbers is 32, determine the other.
Solution: Product of numbers= HCF x LCM
Product of given numbers= 16 x 192= 3072; One of the numbers is 32.
Therefore, the other number is 3072 ÷ 32= 96
Example 14 : If the HCF of two numbers is 16 and their product is

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6400, determine their LCM.
Solution : Product of numbers= HCF × LCM

∴ 6400= 16 × LCM
6400
∴ LCM= =400
16

Example 15. Can two numbers have 18 as their HCF and 220 as their
LCM?

Solution: The HCF of two numbers should be a factor of their LCM But
18 is not a factor of 220 since 220 ÷ 18= 12 with a remainder of 4

Therefore, there cannot be two numbers which have 18 as their HCF

and 220 as their LCM.

Example 16. Find all the factors of the following numbers:

(a) 24 (b) 23
Solution
24 = 1 x 24
24 = 2 x 12
24 = 3 x 8
24 = 4 x 6
(b) 23
Solution :
Factors of 23 are:
23 = 1 x 23
Therefore, all the factors of prime number 23 are: 1 and 23.
Example 17: Find all multiples of 9 upto 100.
Solution :

9x1=9

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9 x 2 = 18

9 x 3 = 27

9 x 4 = 36

9 x 5 = 45

9 x 6 = 54

9 x 7 = 63

9 x 8 = 72;

9 x 9 = 81

9 x 10 = 90

9 x 11 = 99

Therefore, all the multiples of 9 upto 100 are:

9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90 and 99

Example 18: State whether true or false.

(a) The addition of three odd numbers is an even number.
Solution:
False; addition of the three odd numbers is always an odd number.
For example: 7 + 9 + 11 = 27
(b) The addition of two odd numbers and one even number is even.
Solution.

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True; addition of two odd numbers and one even number is always
even
For example: 7 + 9 + 10 = 26
(c) The multiplication of three odd numbers is odd.
Solution.
(True; multiplication of three odd numbers is always an odd number.
For example: 7 x 9 x 13 = 819
Example 19: List down the prime and composite numbers lesser than
20.
Solution:
Prime numbers lesser than 20 are following:
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17 and 19.
Composite numbers lesser than 20 are following:
4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18
Example 20: Give three pairs of prime numbers such that the
difference between them is 2.
[Remark: Two prime numbers differing by 2 are known as twin primes]
Solution: Three pairs of twin primes are:
3 and 5
5 and 7
11 and 13
Example 20: Find any five pairs of prime numbers less than 20 whose
sum is a multiple of 5.
(Hint: 13 + 17 = 30)
Solution.
Required pairs of prime numbers lesser than 20 whose sum is divisible
by 5 are: 2 and 3; 2 + 3 = 5

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2 and 13; 2 + 13 = 15
3 and 17; 3 + 17 = 20
7 and 13; 7 + 13 = 20
9 and 11; 9 + 11 = 20
Example 21: 3. Use divisibility tests to determine which of the
following numbers are divisible by 6:
(a) 297144
Solution.
We know that for a number to be divisible by 6 it should be divisible
by 2 and 3.
We know that for a number to be divisible by 2 the digit at its ones
place should be an even number.
And for it to be divisible by 3 the sum of its all digits should be
divisible by 3.
We can see here that the digit at ones place is 4 which is an even
number so 297144 is perfectly divisible by 2.
All the digits of 297144 add upto : 2 + 9 + 7 + 1 + 4 + 4 = 27 which is
perfectly divisible by 3.
Hence, the given number 297144 is divisible by 6.
(b) 1258
Solution.
The last digit of 1258 is 8 which is an even number so 1258 is perfectly
divisible by 2.
All the digits of 1258 add upto : l + 2 + 5 + 8 = 16 which is not perfectly
divisible by 3.
Example 22: 4. Using divisibility tests, determine which of the
following numbers are divisible by 11:
(a) 5445

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Solution.
We know that a number is divisible by 11 if the difference between the
sum of the digits at odd places (from the right) and the sum of the
digits at even places (from the right) of the number is either 0 or
divisible by 11.
5445
Sum of the digits at odd places = 5 + 4 = 9
Sum of the digits at even places = 4 + 5 = 9
Difference = 9 – 9 = 0
Hence, the given number 5445 is divisible by 11.
(b) 10824
Solution
Sum of the digits at odd places = 4 + 8 + 1 = 13
Sum of the digits at even places = 2 + 0 = 2
Difference = 13 – 2 = 11 which is divisible by 11.
Hence, the given number 10824 is divisible by 11.
(c) 7138965
Solution
Sum of the digits at odd places = 5 + 9 + 3 + 7 = 24

Sum of the digits at even places = 6 + 8 + 1 = 15

Difference = 24 – 15 = 9 which is not divisible by 11.
Hence, the given number 7138965 is not divisible by 11.

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Multiple Choice Type (Each carries one mark)

1. If two numbers x and y are factors of each other, then:

(a) x = y (b) x > y

(c) x < y (d) x ≠ y

2. Any multiple of a natural number is always:

(a) Greater than the number

(b) Smaller than the number

(c) Greater than or equal to the number

(d) Equal to the number

3. The number 5819 is divisible by:

(a) 3 (b) 6 (c) 9 (d) 11

4. Which pair of numbers are twin primes?

(a) 3 and 4 (b) 3 and 5

(c) 3 and 6 (d) 3 and 7

5. The HCF of two numbers is 3 and their product is 504. The LCM of
the number is:

(a) 128 (b) 158

(c) 168 (d) 186

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6. A number when divided by 35 gives a quotient 20 and a remainder
12. The number is:

(a) 440 (b) 700 (c) 712 (d) 762

7. The HCF of 12, 15 and 45 is:

(a) 12 (b) 15 (c) 3 (d) 4
8. The LCM of 6, 12 and 30 is:
(a) 6 (b) 60 (c) 30 (d) 15

Short Answer Type (Each carries 2 or 3 marks)

1. State whether the following are true or false.

(i) The sum of 13 odd numbers is even.
(ii)The product of one even number and 5 odd numbers is always even.
(iii) If a number is divisible by 36, it must be divisible by 2.
(iv) A number is divisible by 35, if it is divisible by both 7 and 5.
2. What is the HCF of two numbers when:
(i) One is a multiple of the other?
(ii) Both are coprime?
3. Find the LCM of two numbers when:
(i) one is a multiple of the other?
(ii) when both are coprime?
4. 17 and 71 are called mirror primes. Can you find any other such pairs
of mirror primes between 1 and 100?
5. Which is the smallest 5-digit number. Express it as the product of
its prime factors.
6. One thousand and one pens and 910 pencils are distributed
amongst a certain number of students so that each gets the same
number of pens and pencils. How many students were there?
7. Which is the least number divisible by 18, 20 and 24?

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8. Three containers hold 108, 36 and 90 litres of water. Find the
maximum capacity of a bucket which can measure the water in
all three containers an exact number of times.
9. Three students run on concentric circular
running tracks, starting from a common base.
They run in such a manner that they touch base
after every 35 seconds, 50 seconds and 70
seconds respectively. If they start at 8 a.m.,
when will they all touch base together again?
10. Find the smallest number which when divided by 12, 20 and 36 will
leave a remainder of 7 in each case.
11. Three bells toll at intervals of 20, 24 and 32
seconds. If they begin to toll together, after
how long will they toll together again?
12. Arun, Vinay and Raja start running on a circular
track from their respective points. Arun completes
a full circle in 100 seconds, Vinay in 120 seconds and
Raja in 144 seconds. If they all start from the same
point, when will they all next be at the starting
point, presuming they maintain the same speed?
13. Find the smallest number, which when divided by 4, 12, 16 and 20,
leaves no remainder.
14. Find the smallest number, which when divided by 14, 49 and 63
leaves a remainder of 1 in each case.
15. In a school, the duration of a class in the primary section is 40
minutes, and in the secondary section it is 1 hour. If both sections
begin at 9 a.m., when will bells of the two sections ring together
again?

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16. In a race, Ashraf touches the start pole every 28 seconds. Irfan
touches the same pole every 32 seconds. If they start together,
when will they next touch the pole together?
17. Find the largest number that divides 398, 436 and 542 leaving
remainders 7, 11 and 15 respectively.
18. A large hall of size 224 m by 189 m has to be tiled. What is the
length of the largest square tile that can be laid?
19. Three tankers contain 465 litres, 403 litres and 434 litres of oil
respectively. What should be the maximum capacity of a
container that can measure the oil of all tankers, an exact number
of times.
20. The length, breadth and height of a hall are 8.25m, 6.75m & 4.5 m
respectively. Find the longest rod which can measure the three
dimensions an exact number of times.

Long Answer Type (Each carries four marks)

21. Which two prime numbers when multiplied gives the highest
even number less than 20.
22. Which pairs of numbers are coprime?
(a)21, 34 (b)54, 33 (c)16, 23 (d)60, 100 (e)11, 89
23. Which two numbers do not belong in the set of numbers given
below: 45, 63, 81, 93, 49, 67, 99, 87, 27, 19.
24. Find two prime numbers whose difference is 1.
25. Find two prime numbers whose difference is 3. Are there other
such pairs?
26. Find all the pairs of twin primes less than 30. Find a pair of twin
primes greater than 100 and less than 110.
27. In the set of numbers less than ninety-three, which is the largest

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prime number?
28. Which is the smallest composite odd number?
29. (i) Are all numbers ending with 3, prime numbers?
(ii) List all numbers below 100 ending with 3 and indicate which
of them are prime and which are composite.
30. Find a perfect number greater than 10 but less than 40.

1. What is the maximum number of identical

bouquets that can be made out of 21 white and
91 red tulips if no flowers are to be left out?
(Two bouquets are identical whenever the
number of red tulips in the two bouquets is
equal and the number of white tulips in the
two bouquets is equal)
2. Sama and Linda work in the same company but have different
work schedules. Sama has every 4th day off, and Linda has every 3rd
day off. If they both worked on March 31st, Sama will have off on
April 4th and Linda will have off on April 3rd. Which of them will have
off on April 30th? What is the first day in April they will both have
off?

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Real-life Applications
3. A car manual recommends changing the oil
every 3000 km and inspecting the engine
coolant system every 4500 km. At how many
kilometers will both be done for the first time and
the second time?
4. Earth takes one year to revolve around the sun
while Jupiter revolves around the sun every 12
years. If both Earth and Jupiter pass the Point A
near the sun in 2016, when will they pass that
point together again?

Mathematical Creativity
5. The quotient and the last divisor are given.

(i) Find the two numbers whose HCF is 35.

35 2

(ii) Find the two numbers whose HCF is 45.

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3

45 2

6. Which is the smallest number with four different prime factors?

7. Which is the smallest odd composite number with

two different prime factors?

8. What is the product of the smallest

composite number and the smallest
prime number with factors equal to the
smallest odd prime number?

Life skills and Values

9. Your class of 30 students is going out on a picnic and you are in

charge of ordering sandwiches, apples and lime juice. In the
supermarket, the sandwiches are packed 6 per packet, apples 4
per packet and lime juice is packed in small size tetra packs 10 per
packet. What is the least number of packets you need to buy, so

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CHAPTER 3
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that you can distribute equally to all your classmates? How many
of each will each student in your class get?
10. On a particular day when you are helping out in your father’s
workshop, you find that three wire rolls of lengths 120 m, 186 m, 280
m have to be cut into pieces of equal length so that they can be
packed together in boxes of same size. What is the greatest
possible length of the pieces that can be cut from each such that
no small piece of wire is left over?

Puzzle Time

11. Make the figure given in the side with 12 matchsticks.

(i) How many squares of different sizes are there in the figure?

(ii) Remove 1 matchstick and leave 3 squares.

(iii) Remove 2 matchsticks and leave 3 squares.

(iv) Remove 3 matchsticks and leave 3 squares.

(v) Remove 1 matchstick and move 4 to make 11 squares.

(vi) Remove 3 matchsticks and move 2 to form 3 squares.

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Solutions

Checkpoint 1
1. (i) 1,2,3,4,6,9,12,18,36
(ii) 1, 3,5,15,25,75
(iii) 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10,12,15,20,24,30,40,60,120
(iv) 1,2,4,5, 1,2,4,5,8,10,20,25,40,50,100,200
(v) 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 20, 32, 40, 64, 80, 160, 320
2. Do it yourself
3. 11
4. 49

Checkpoint 2
1. I ii ii iv v vi
T F F T F F

2. 1 + 3 = 4
3. (i). 3 + 5
(ii). 3+ 7
(iii). 7+13
(iv). 13 +17
(v). 13 +23
4. 2 + 3 = 5
2+5=7
2 + 11 = 13
2 + 17 = 19
2 + 41 = 43
5. 97

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CHAPTER 3
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Checkpoint 3
1.

Number 2 4 8 5 10

(i) 128 P P P X X

(ii) 572 P P X X X

(iii) 990 P X X P P

(iv) 1586 P X X X X

2.

Number 3 6 9 11

(i) 1258 X X X X

(ii) 5335 X X X P

(iii) 21,084 P P X X

(iv) 71,232 P P X X

3. Do it yourself
4. Do it yourself

Checkpoint 4
1. (i). F (ii). T (iii). F (iv). T
2. Do it yourself.

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Checkpoint 5
1. Do it by following the above example
2. (i). 2,3 (ii). 2,17
(iii). 2,7 (iv). 2,7
3. (i). 2x2x2x 3 (ii). 2x2x2x7
(iii). 2x3x3x3 (iv). 2x5x7
4. (i). 2,3 (ii). 2,3
(iii). 2,29 (iv). 3,7

Check Point 6
1. (i). 45 (ii). 18 (iii). 34 (iv). 10
2. (i). 171 (ii). 67 (iii). 18 (iv). 150 (v). 55
3. (i). 11 (ii). 37 (iii). 50 (iv). 15
4. (i). 1 (ii). 1

Check Point 7
1. (i). 40 (ii). 160 (iii). 200 (iv). 360 (v). 120
2. (i). 126 (ii). 1386 (iii). 300 (iv). 240 (v). 5670

Checkpoint 8
2. LCM = a × b 3. 70 4. i. No ii. Yes

Novice level
MCQs
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
A C D B C C C B

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Subjective (Short Answer Type)

8.(i) F (ii) F (iii) T (iv) T

9. i. Smaller number will be hcf ii. 1
10. i. the larger number ii. product of both numbers
11. 13, 31 and 37, 73 and 79, 97 12. 10000 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5
13. 91 14. 360 15. 18 16. 8:05:50
17. 187 18. 480 sec/ 8 min 19. 1152 sec
20. 240 21.883 22. 11 am 23. 224
24. 17 25. 7m 26. 31 litre 27. 75 cm
Long answer type:
28. 2 & 7 29. a, b, c, e 30. 19,67 31. 2,3
32. 2,5;NO
33. Twin primes :- (3, 5), (5, 7), (11, 13), (17, 19) ; (71,73) & (101,103)
34. 89 35. 9 36. i. NO ii. Do it yourself
37. 28

Advanced level
1. 7
2. Linda, 12 April
Real-life applications
3. 9000 km & 18000 km 4. 2028 5. i. 280, 385 ii. 225, 765 6.210
7. 15 8. 27
9. Sandwiches-5 packets (Every student will get-1 sandwich)
Apples- 15 packets (Every student will get-2 apples)
Lime juice- 3 packets (Every student will get- 1 lime juice)
10. 2m
END

51