Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

hcf

Mathematical Term

ˈaɪtʃˈsiˈɛf

Definition

HCF stands for ‘Highest Common Factor’, which is the largest positive integer that divides two or more numbers without leaving a remainder.

Examples

The HCF of 12 and 18 is 6.
To simplify the fraction 8/12, you can divide both the numerator and denominator by their HCF, which is 4.
When finding the HCF of 20, 30, and 50, you determine it is 10.

Meaning

The HCF of a set of numbers is the greatest factor that all the numbers share. It’s often used in mathematics to simplify fractions or find common denominators.