Question

Greatest common factor of `6c^5 and 15c^6`?

Answer 1

`HCF =3c^5`

Explanation:

Write each term as the product of its prime factors.
Then see which factors they have in common.

`" "6c^5 = 2xxcolor(blue)(3)" "xxcolor(red)(cxxcxxcxxcxxc)`
`" "15c^6=ul(" "color(blue)(3)xx5xxcolor(red)(cxxcxxcxxcxxc)xxc)`
`" "HCF = " "color(blue)(3) " "xxcolor(red)(cxxcxxcxxcxxc) = 3c^5`

The `HCF =3c^5`

With a bit of practice it is possible to identify the HCF by inspection by looking at the indices.