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?

Given,

Number of army contingent members=616

Number of army band members = 32

When we find the HCF(616,32) then we get  maximum number of columns in which they can march.

We use Euclid’s algorithm to find their HCF

Since, , therefore,

Since, 8 ≠ 0, therefore, taking 32 as new divisor, we have,

we have got remainder as 0,

therefore, HCF (616, 32) = 8.

maximum number of columns in which they  march is 8.