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Suppose a divides b, where a and b are positive integers with a < b. Then HCF(a, b) and LCM(a, b) are, respectively:

Class 10Real NumbersNumber Systems
  • Ab and a
  • B1 and ab
  • Cboth equal to a
  • Da and b

Step-by-Step Solution

If a divides , then a is itself the greatest common factor and is already a common multiple, so HCF = and LCM = . Test with : HCF = 6, LCM = 18, and indeed . Choosing 1 and would only be right for CO-PRIME numbers.
Answer: D) a and 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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