If you have two straight sticks of length 7.5 feet and 3.25 feet, what is the minimum length you can measure?
If you have two straight sticks of length 7.5 feet and 3.25 feet, what is the minimum length you can measure?
0.05 foot
0.25 foot
1 foot
3.25 feet
Solution
The minimum length measurable using two sticks (by placing them and taking differences) is the HCF of the two lengths. $7.5 = 750/100$ and $3.25 = 325/100$. HCF of 750 and 325 is 25. So HCF $= 25/100 = 0.25$ foot.