Question

Zev has 36 pencils and 45 erasers. He wants to use all of the pencils and erasers to make identical packages for his friends. What is the greatest number of packages Zev can make?

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step

If you don't want to have anything left over, then the highest common factor is

36: 2 * 2 * 3 * 3

45: 3 * 3 * 5

The highest common factor is 9.

So he can make nine packages with

4 pencils in each one and

5 erasers in each package.