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For any two positive integers a and b, the LCM is always:

Class 10Real NumbersNumber Systems
  • Aa factor of HCF(a, b)
  • Bequal to a + b
  • Ca multiple of HCF(a, b)
  • Dsmaller than HCF(a, b)

Step-by-Step Solution

The HCF divides both a and b, and the LCM is a multiple of both, so the HCF divides the LCM — the LCM is a multiple of the HCF. This also shows the HCF can never exceed the LCM, so the "factor of" and "smaller than" options have the relationship the wrong way round.
Answer: C) a multiple of HCF(a, b)

Key idea: Euclid's Division Lemma and HCF

**Lemma**: For positive integers a, (with ), there exist UNIQUE with and 0 ≤ .

This is just formal long division — is the quotient, is the remainder.

**Algorithm to find HCF(a, b)** with :
1. Apply lemma: .
2. If , HCF = .
3. If ≠ 0, replace (a, b) with , r) and repeat.

**Example**: HCF(420, 130)
→ HCF = 10.

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