Question

If a and b are positive integers such that a = x³y² and b = xy³, where x, y are prime numbers, then HCF (a, b) = ?

(a) xy
(b) xy²
(c) x²y²
(d) x³y³

Answer 1

(b) xy²
It is given that:
a = x³y² and b = xy³, where x and y are prime numbers
∴ HCF (a, b​) = HCF (x³y², xy³)
we know,
​ ​ HCF = Product of smallest power of each common prime factor in the numbers
= xy^​2