Medium
Two vessels contain 24 litres and 36 litres of milk. What is the capacity of the largest container that can measure the milk in both vessels an exact number of times?
Explanation
Explanation
Step 1: The largest container that measures both quantities exactly must divide both 24 and 36, so we need their HCF.
Step 2: Prime factors: 24 = 2³ × 3 and 36 = 2² × 3².
Step 3: HCF = common primes with the smallest powers = 2² × 3 = 12.
Step 4: Check: 24 ÷ 12 = 2 times and 36 ÷ 12 = 3 times ✓.
Step 5: 72 is the LCM, not the HCF, and does not divide 24.
Answer: 12 litres.
PRO TIP
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