HCF is used when you need the largest common measure (splitting into equal groups, tiling). LCM is used for the smallest common multiple (meeting times, common denominators). Real-life word problems typically reduce to either finding HCF (dividing into equal groups) or LCM (repeating events synchronising).
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Class 10 · Mathematics (Standard) · Unit 1: Real Numbers
Applications of HCF and LCM
Lesson 5 of 5