Question

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?

Answer 1

Members in arms = 616
Members in Band = 32
∴ Maximum numbers of columns
= HCF of 616 and 32
By applying Euclid’s division lemma
616 = 32 × 19 + 8
32 = 8 × 4 + 0
∴ HCF = 8
Hence the maximum remainder number of columns in which they can each is 8