An army contingent of 616 members is to march behind an army band of 32 members in a parade. The two groups are to march in the same number of columns. What is the maximum number of columns in which they can march?

To find maximum number of columns we should find HCF of 616 and 32


Using Euclid’s algorithms:


Let a = 616 and b = 32


a = bq + r, (o ≤r<b)


616 = 32×19+8


32 = 8×4+0


HCF of 616 and 32 is 8


Therefore the maximum number of columns in which army contingent to march is 8


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