Question

Kalai wants to cut identical squares as big as she can, from a piece of paper measuring 168 mm and by 196 mm. What is the length of the side of the biggest square? (To find HCF using repeated subtraction method)

Answer 1

Sides are 168 and 196

To find HCF of 168 and 196, we are to use repeated subtraction method.

∴ m = 196, n = 168

m – n = 196 – 168 = 28

now n = 28, m = 168

m – n = 168 – 28 = 140

now m = 140, n = 28

m – n = 140 – 28 = 112

now m = 112, n = 28

m – n = 112 – 28 = 84

now m = 84, n = 28

m – n = 84 – 28 = 56

now m = 56, n = 28

m – n = 56 – 28 = 28

∴ HCF is 28

∴ Length of biggest square is 28