- A35 cm
- B21 cm
- C45 cm
- D105 cm
Step-by-Step Solution
Work in cm: 1260, 945, 735. Factorise: 1260=22⋅32⋅5⋅7,945=33⋅5⋅7,735=3⋅5⋅72. Lowest common powers give 3·5·7 = 105 cm, and 1260/105 = 12, 945/105 = 9, 735/105 = 7. Both 35 and 21 do measure all three, but they are not the LONGEST such rod; 45 fails because 735 ÷ 45 is not a whole number.
Answer: D) 105 cm
Key idea: Euclid's Division Lemma and HCF
**Lemma**: For positive integers a, b (with b>0), there exist UNIQUE q,r with a=bq+r and 0 ≤ r<b.
This is just formal long division — q is the quotient, r is the remainder.
**Algorithm to find HCF(a, b)** with a>b:
1. Apply lemma: a=bq+r.
2. If r=0, HCF = b.
3. If r ≠ 0, replace (a, b) with (b, r) and repeat.
**Example**: HCF(420, 130).−420=130×3+30−130=30×4+10−30=10×3+0
→ HCF = 10.