LCM and HCF of Expression 1

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 5 views

Introduction

In mathematics, factoring is a process of expressing an algebraic expression as a product of simpler expressions. It is an essential concept in algebra and is used to simplify complex expressions and solve equations. In this article, we will factor the given expressions and then find their Least Common Multiple (LCM) and Highest Common Factor (HCF).

Expression 1: $x^2 - 15x + 36$

To factor the expression $x^2 - 15x + 36$ , we need to find two numbers whose product is $36$ and whose sum is $-15$ . These numbers are $-12$ and $-3$ .

x^2 - 15x + 36 = (x - 12)(x - 3)

LCM and HCF of Expression 1

The LCM of the expression $x^2 - 15x + 36$ is the product of the two factors, which is $(x - 12)(x - 3)$ . The HCF of the expression is the greatest common factor of the two factors, which is $1$ .

Expression 2: $3x^2 - 27$

To factor the expression $3x^2 - 27$ , we can first factor out the greatest common factor, which is $3$ . This gives us:

3x^2 - 27 = 3(x^2 - 9)

We can then factor the expression inside the parentheses as a difference of squares:

3(x^2 - 9) = 3(x - 3)(x + 3)

LCM and HCF of Expression 2

The LCM of the expression $3x^2 - 27$ is the product of the two factors, which is $3(x - 3)(x + 3)$ . The HCF of the expression is the greatest common factor of the two factors, which is $3$ .

Expression 3: $5bx - 15b$

To factor the expression $5bx - 15b$ , we can first factor out the greatest common factor, which is $5b$ . This gives us:

5bx - 15b = 5b(x - 3)

LCM and HCF of Expression 3

The LCM of the expression $5bx - 15b$ is the product of the two factors, which is $5b(x - 3)$ . The HCF of the expression is the greatest common factor of the two factors, which is $5b$ .

Conclusion

In this article, we have factored the given expressions and then found their LCM and HCF. We have seen that factoring is an essential concept in algebra and is used to simplify complex expressions and solve equations. We have also seen that the LCM and HCF of an expression can be found by factoring the expression and then finding the product and greatest common factor of the factors.

Final Answer

The final answer is:

Expression 1: $(x - 12)(x - 3)$ , LCM = $(x - 12)(x - 3)$ , HCF = $1$
Expression 2: $3(x - 3)(x + 3)$ , LCM = $3(x - 3)(x + 3)$ , HCF = $3$
Expression 3: $5b(x - 3)$ , LCM = $5b(x - 3)$ , HCF = $5b$
Q&A: Factoring Expressions and Finding LCM and HCF =====================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed factoring expressions and finding the Least Common Multiple (LCM) and Highest Common Factor (HCF) of the expressions. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to factoring expressions and finding LCM and HCF.

Q1: What is factoring?

A: Factoring is a process of expressing an algebraic expression as a product of simpler expressions. It is an essential concept in algebra and is used to simplify complex expressions and solve equations.

Q2: How do I factor an expression?

A: To factor an expression, you need to find two numbers whose product is the constant term of the expression and whose sum is the coefficient of the middle term. These numbers are called the factors of the expression.

Q3: What is the difference between LCM and HCF?

A: The LCM of two or more expressions is the product of the highest powers of all the factors that appear in the expressions. The HCF of two or more expressions is the product of the lowest powers of all the factors that appear in the expressions.

Q4: How do I find the LCM of two expressions?

A: To find the LCM of two expressions, you need to factor both expressions and then find the product of the highest powers of all the factors that appear in the expressions.

Q5: How do I find the HCF of two expressions?

A: To find the HCF of two expressions, you need to factor both expressions and then find the product of the lowest powers of all the factors that appear in the expressions.

Q6: What is the relationship between LCM and HCF?

A: The product of the LCM and HCF of two expressions is equal to the product of the two expressions.

Q7: Can I find the LCM and HCF of an expression with multiple variables?

A: Yes, you can find the LCM and HCF of an expression with multiple variables by factoring the expression and then finding the product of the highest powers of all the factors that appear in the expression.

Q8: How do I use factoring to solve equations?

A: Factoring can be used to solve equations by expressing the equation as a product of simpler expressions and then solving for the variables.

Q9: What are some common mistakes to avoid when factoring expressions?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when factoring expressions include:

Not factoring out the greatest common factor
Not finding the correct factors of the expression
Not checking if the factors are correct

Q10: How can I practice factoring expressions and finding LCM and HCF?

A: You can practice factoring expressions and finding LCM and HCF by working on problems and exercises in your textbook or online resources. You can also try to factor expressions and find LCM and HCF on your own by using the steps and techniques discussed in this article.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions related to factoring expressions and finding LCM and HCF. We have seen that factoring is an essential concept in algebra and is used to simplify complex expressions and solve equations. We have also seen that the LCM and HCF of an expression can be found by factoring the expression and then finding the product and greatest common factor of the factors.

Final Answer

The final answer is:

Q1: Factoring is a process of expressing an algebraic expression as a product of simpler expressions.
Q2: To factor an expression, you need to find two numbers whose product is the constant term of the expression and whose sum is the coefficient of the middle term.
Q3: The LCM of two or more expressions is the product of the highest powers of all the factors that appear in the expressions, while the HCF of two or more expressions is the product of the lowest powers of all the factors that appear in the expressions.
Q4: To find the LCM of two expressions, you need to factor both expressions and then find the product of the highest powers of all the factors that appear in the expressions.
Q5: To find the HCF of two expressions, you need to factor both expressions and then find the product of the lowest powers of all the factors that appear in the expressions.
Q6: The product of the LCM and HCF of two expressions is equal to the product of the two expressions.
Q7: Yes, you can find the LCM and HCF of an expression with multiple variables by factoring the expression and then finding the product of the highest powers of all the factors that appear in the expression.
Q8: Factoring can be used to solve equations by expressing the equation as a product of simpler expressions and then solving for the variables.
Q9: Some common mistakes to avoid when factoring expressions include not factoring out the greatest common factor, not finding the correct factors of the expression, and not checking if the factors are correct.
Q10: You can practice factoring expressions and finding LCM and HCF by working on problems and exercises in your textbook or online resources, or by trying to factor expressions and find LCM and HCF on your own.