NCERT Solutions Class 10 Maths Chapter 1 Exercise 1.2 is important to learn the prime factorisation concept and the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic. Class 10 Maths chapter 1 exercise 1.2 includes important concepts like the factorisation of composite numbers and their uniqueness. It is important to master this exercise to get a solid base in number theory, which is essential for learning complex topics of maths. Let us discuss these concepts in detail as per the new CBSE class 10 syllabus and examination protocols.
The fundamental theorem of Arithmetic states that every composite number can be expressed uniquely as a product of prime numbers. In simple words, every natural number can be uniquely expressed as a product of prime factors. However, the order of these prime factors can be written in different ways. For example, 2 × 3 × 5 × 7 is the same as 3 × 5 × 7 × 2 or any other order.
Students can find the below list of important concepts covered under NCERT Solutions Class 10 Chapter 1 Real Numbers - Exercise 1.2.
Prime factorisation is simply the process of breaking down a given composite number into its prime factors. All these prime factors are then raised to a certain power, which basically shows the number of times a prime is multiplied in the factorisation. Mathematically, prime factorisation can be expressed as:
Given a composite number, say x, by factorising the number x = p1, p2, p3, …., pn. Here, p1, p2, p3, …., pn is written in ascending order or the prime numbers. By combining the same prime factors, we determine the powers of those primes. For example:
32760 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5 × 7 × 13 = 23 × 32 × 5 × 7 × 13
Here, we can observe that the LCM and HCF are related to prime factorisation through the fact that we employ the prime factors to find the smallest common multiple (LCM) or the greatest common divisor (HCF) of two or more numbers.
The product of any two numbers, say a and b, is equal to the product of HCF and LCM of these numbers. Mathematically, the equation can be written as:
HCF x LCM = a x b
Note that the above-mentioned equation holds true for a pair of any two positive natural numbers.
(i) 140
(ii) 156
(iii) 3825
(iv) 5005
(v) 7429
Solution:
(i) 140 = 2² × 5 × 7
(ii) 156 = 2² × 3 × 13
(iii) 3825 = 3² × 5² × 17
(iv) 5005 = 5 × 7 × 11 × 13
(v) 7429 = 17 × 19 × 23
(i) 26 and 91
(ii) 510 and 92
(iii) 336 and 54
Solution:
(i) 26 and 91
26 = 2 × 13
91 = 7 × 13
Therefore, LCM(26, 91) = 2 × 7 × 13 = 182
HCF(26, 91) = 13
Verification:
LCM × HCF = 182 × 13 = 2366
26 × 91 = 2366
i.e., LCM × HCF = product of two numbers.
(ii) 510 and 92
510 = 2 × 3 × 5 × 17
92 = 2² × 23
LCM(510, 92) = 2² × 3 × 5 × 17 × 23 = 23460
HCF(510, 92) = 2
Verification:
LCM × HCF = 23460 × 2 = 46920
510 × 92 = 46920
i.e., LCM × HCF = product of two numbers.
(iii) 336 and 54
336 = 2⁴ × 3 × 7
54 = 2 × 3³
LCM = 2⁴ × 3³ × 7 = 3024
HCF = 2 × 3 = 6
Verification:
LCM × HCF = 2⁴ × 3³ × 7 × 2 × 3 = 18144
Product of two numbers = 336 × 54 = 18144
i.e., LCM × HCF = product of two numbers.
(i) 12, 15 and 21
(ii) 17, 23 and 29
(iii) 8, 9 and 25
Solution:
(i) 12, 15 and 21
12 = 2² × 3
15 = 3 × 5
21 = 3 × 7
Therefore, HCF(12, 15, 21) = 3
LCM(12, 15, 21) = 2² × 3 × 5 × 7 = 420
(ii) 17, 23, 29
17 = 1 × 17
23 = 1 × 23
29 = 1 × 29
LCM = 1 × 17 × 23 × 29 = 11339
HCF = 1
(iii) 8, 9, 25
8 = 2 × 2 × 2
9 = 3 × 3
25 = 5 × 5
LCM = 2³ × 3² × 5² = 1800
HCF = 1
Solution:
LCM × HCF = product of two numbers.
LCM(306, 657) = (306 × 657) / HCF(306, 657)
LCM(306, 657) = (306 × 657) / 9 = 22338
Solution:
If the number 6ⁿ, for any natural number n, ends with digit 0, then it would be divisible by 5. That is, the prime factorisation of 6ⁿ would contain the prime number 5. This is not possible because 6ⁿ = (2 × 3)ⁿ = 2ⁿ × 3ⁿ; so the only primes in the factorisation of 6ⁿ are 2 and 3 and the uniqueness of the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic guarantees that there are no other primes in the factorisation of 6ⁿ. So, there is no natural number n for which 6ⁿ ends with the digit zero.
Solution:
(i) Let 7 × 11 × 13 + 13 = (7 × 11 + 1) × 13 = (77 + 1) × 13 = 78 × 13 = 2 × 3 × 13 × 13 = 2 × 3 × 13² is a composite number as powers of prime occur and also having more than two distinct factors.
(ii) 7 × 6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 + 5 = (7 × 6 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 + 1) × 5 = 1009 × 5
Since, 7 × 6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 + 5 can be expressed as a product of primes, other than 1 therefore it is a composite number.
Solution:
LCM of 18 and 12.
18 = 2 × 3²
12 = 2² × 3
LCM(18, 12) = 2² × 3² = 36
Thus, after 36 minutes they will meet again at the starting point.
(Session 2025 - 26)