HCF of 36 and 42

The HCF of 36 and 42 is 6. The highest value which divides 36 and 42 is the HCF of these numbers. The factors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 36, and the factors of 42 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21 and 42. The HCF concepts and the importance of prime factorisation, long division and listing common factors methods are described here in this article.

Also read: Highest common factor

What is the HCF of 36 and 42?

The answer to this question is 6. The methods we can make use of to determine the HCF of 36 and 42 are shown here. The number which divides 36 and 42 is the HCF value.

How to Find HCF of 36 and 42?

The methods to determine the HCF of 36 and 42 are:

• Prime Factorisation
• Long Division method
• Listing common factors

HCF of 36 and 42 by Prime Factorisation Method

The prime factorisation of 36 and 42 is given by:

36 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3

42 = 2 × 3 × 7

Common prime factors of 36 and 42 = 2, 3

Hence, HCF (2, 3) = 2 × 3 = 6

HCF of 36 and 42 by Long Division Method

Let us first divide (36, 42) from the prime factors to get the HCF of 36 and 42. The divisor with zero as the remainder is the HCF.

No further division can be done.

Hence, HCF (36, 42) = 6

HCF of 36 and 42 by Listing Common Factors

The HCF of 36 and 42 by listing common factors is:

Factors of 36: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36

Factors of 42: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 42

There are 4 common factors of 36 and 42, and they are 1, 2, 3 and 6.

Therefore, the highest common factor of 36 and 42 is 6.

Related Articles

• Prime Factorization Calculator
• Properties of HCF and LCM
• Prime Factorisation and Division Method for HCF and LCM
• Prime Factorisation
• GCD Calculator

Video Lesson on Properties of HCF and LCM

HCF of 36 and 42 Solved Example

Question: In 121, 80, 153, 27, 170, 18, 6, find the HCF of 36 and 42.

Solution:

HCF of 36 and 42 is the number which divides 36 and 42, with the remainder zero.

The number which satisfies this condition is 6.

Hence, the HCF is 6.