Find the greatest possible length which can be used to measure exactly the lengths 7 m, 3 m 85 cm and 12 m 95 cm.
We know 1m = 100cm.
So,
7m = 700cm,
3m 85cm = 300 + 85 = 385cm,
and 12m 95cm = 1200 + 95 = 1295cm.
The greatest possible length that can measure all the three given lengths will be HCF of the lengths -
So HCF of 700, 385 and 1295 -
Prime factors of numbers are -
700 = 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 × 7
385 = 5 × 7 × 11
1295 = 5 × 7 × 37
∴ HCF = 5 × 7 = 35.
So the greatest possible length that can be used = 35cm.