SOLUTION: Cathy has two strips of colored cardboard with lengths of 72 cm and 84 cm. She wants to cut them into shorter pieces. What is the longest possible length that she can cut both o

Algebra ->  Divisibility and Prime Numbers -> SOLUTION: Cathy has two strips of colored cardboard with lengths of 72 cm and 84 cm. She wants to cut them into shorter pieces. What is the longest possible length that she can cut both o      Log On


   

Question 990014: Cathy has two strips of colored cardboard with lengths of 72 cm and 84 cm. She wants to cut them into shorter pieces. What is the longest possible length that she can cut both of them so that no cardboard is wasted? How many pieces will she get?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Cathy has two strips of colored cardboard with lengths of 72 cm and 84 cm. She wants to cut them into shorter pieces. What is the longest possible length that she can cut both of them so that no cardboard is wasted? How many pieces will she get?
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72 = 8*9 = 2^3*3^2
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84 = 2^2*3*7
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Greatest common divisor:: 2^2*3 = 12
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Ans:
longest possible:: 12 cm
# of 12 in 72 = 6 pieces
# of 12 in 84 = 7 pieces
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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