Find the H.C.F. and L.C.M. of $0.63$, $1.05$ and $2.1$.
Aptitude
HCF and LCM
Difficulty: Medium
Choose an option
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AH.C.F. = $0.21$, L.C.M. = $6.3$
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BH.C.F. = $0.21$, L.C.M. = $63$
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CH.C.F. = $2.1$, L.C.M. = $0.63$
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DH.C.F. = $0.021$, L.C.M. = $6.3$
Answer
Correct Answer: H.C.F. = $0.21$, L.C.M. = $6.3$
Explanation
### Concept & Formula
To find the H.C.F. and L.C.M. of decimals, you must first convert them to equivalent numbers with the **same number of decimal places**.
Once aligned, temporarily remove the decimal point, find the H.C.F. and L.C.M. of the resulting integers, and then place the decimal point back in the result at the same position.
### Step-by-Step Solution
**Step 1: Align the decimal places.**
* Given numbers: $0.63$, $1.05$, $2.1$
* The maximum number of decimal places is two (in $0.63$ and $1.05$).
* Rewrite $2.1$ as $2.10$ so all numbers have two decimal places.
* The aligned numbers are: $0.63$, $1.05$, $2.10$.
**Step 2: Treat as integers.**
* Remove the decimals to get: $63$, $105$, $210$.
**Step 3: Calculate the H.C.F. of the integers.**
* $63 = 3^2 \times 7$
* $105 = 3 \times 5 \times 7$
* $210 = 2 \times 3 \times 5 \times 7$
* The common prime factors are $3$ and $7$.
* H.C.F.($63, 105, 210$) = $3 \times 7 = 21$.
**Step 4: Calculate the L.C.M. of the integers.**
* L.C.M. requires the highest powers of all prime factors ($2, 3, 5, 7$).
* L.C.M.($63, 105, 210$) = $2^1 \times 3^2 \times 5^1 \times 7^1$
* L.C.M. = $2 \times 9 \times 5 \times 7 = 630$.
**Step 5: Restore the decimal point.**
* Since we originally aligned the numbers to two decimal places, insert the decimal point two places from the right.
* Final H.C.F. = $0.21$
* Final L.C.M. = $6.30$ (or simply $6.3$)
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
A much faster method for alignment is to multiply all given numbers by $100$ to clear the decimals completely: $63$, $105$, and $210$.
Find the H.C.F. ($21$) and L.C.M. ($630$) of these whole numbers. Then, simply reverse the initial operation by dividing your answers by $100$.
$21 / 100 = 0.21$.
$630 / 100 = 6.3$.
### Common Pitfall
The most dangerous pitfall is failing to align the decimal places first. If you extract $63$, $105$, and $21$ directly from $0.63$, $1.05$, and $2.1$, your H.C.F. calculation for the integers will be $21$, which leads to $0.21$, but your L.C.M. will be $315$, leading to an incorrect final L.C.M. of $3.15$. Always pad with trailing zeros first.
### Final Answer
**Therefore, the correct answer is H.C.F. = $0.21$, L.C.M. = $6.3$.**