Basic arithmetic 5
Now try the following Practice Exercise
Prac tice Exercise 2 Further problems on
multiplication and division (answers on
page 340)
Determine the values of the expressions given in
problems 1 to 9, wit hout using a calculator.
1. (a) 78 × 6 (b) 124 × 7
2. (a) £261 × 7 (b) £462 × 9
3. (a) 783 kg × 11 (b) 73 kg × 8
4. (a) 27 mm × 13 (b) 77 mm × 12
5. (a) 448 × 23 (b) 143 ×(−31)
6. (a) 288 m ÷ 6 (b) 979 m ÷ 11
7.
(a)
1813
7
(b)
896
16
8.
(a)
21424
13
(b) 15900 ÷ 15
9.
(a)
88737
11
(b) 46858 ÷ 14
10. A screw has a mass of 15 grams. Calculate,
in kilograms, the mass of 1200 such screws
(1 kg = 1000 g).
1.4 Highest common factors and
lowest common multiples
When two or more numbers are multiplied together, the
individualnumbers are called factors. Thus, a factor is a
number which divides into another number exactly. The
highest common factor (HCF) is the largest number
which divides into two or more numbers exactly.
For example, consider the numbers 12 and 15.
The factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 (i.e. all the
numbers that divide into 12).
The factors of 15 are 1, 3, 5 and 15 (i.e. all the numbers
that divide into 15).
1and3aretheonlycommon factors; i.e., numbers
which are factors of both 12 and 15.
Hence, the HCF of 12 and 15 is 3 since 3 is the highest
number which divides into both 12 and 15.
A multiple i s a number which contains another number
an exact number of times. The smallest number which
is exactly divisible by each of two or more numbers is
called the lowest common multiple (LCM).
For example, the multiples of 12 are 12, 24, 36, 48,
60, 72,... and the multiples of 15 are 15, 30, 45,
60, 75,...
60 is a common multiple (i.e. a multiple of both 12 and
15) and there are no lower common multiples.
Hence, the LCM of 12 and 15 i s 60 since 60 is the
lowest number t hat both 12 and 15 divide into.
Here are some further problems involving t he determi-
nation of HCFs and LCMs.
Problem 12. Determine the HCF of t he numbers
12, 30 and 42
Probably the simplest way of determining an HCF is to
express each number in terms of its lowest factors. This
is achieved by repeatedly dividing by the prime numbers
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, … (where possible) in turn. Thus,
12 = 2 × 2 × 3
30 = 2 × 3 × 5
42 = 2 × 3 × 7
The factors which are common to each of the numbers
are 2 in column 1 and 3 in column 3, shown by the
broken lines. Hence, the HCF is 2 × 3; i.e., 6.Thatis,
6 i s the largest number which will divide into 12, 30
and 42.
Problem 13. Determine the HCF of t he numbers
30, 105, 210 and 1155
Using t he method shown in Problem 12:
30 = 2 × 3 × 5
105 = 3 × 5 × 7
210 = 2 × 3 × 5 × 7
1155 = 3 × 5 × 7 × 11
The factors which are common to each of the numbers
are 3 in column 2 and 5 in column 3. Hence, the HCF
is 3 × 5=15.
Problem 14. Determine the LCM of the numbers
12, 42 and 90