01 What is the HCF of 24 and 36?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. 12
Explanation: Use prime factorisation to find the highest common factor. We have 24 = 2³ × 3 and 36 = 2² × 3². The common primes are 2 and 3; taking the smaller exponent of each gives HCF = 2² × 3 = 4 × 3 = 12. Although 6 divides both numbers, 12 is the greatest common factor.