HCF

Units & Measurements abbreviation · Math

HCF
Stands forHighest common factor
CategoriesUnits & Measurements

HCF stands for Highest common factor, a math abbreviation.

British, Indian, Australian and other Commonwealth name for the greatest common divisor: the largest number that divides each of a set of numbers exactly. The HCF of 24 and 36 is 12.

Example: Find the HCF of 56 and 84 using prime factorisation.

Usage notes

HCF and LCM questions are a staple of GCSE and Indian board exams, often solved with Venn diagrams of prime factors. Indian textbooks use GCD as well. The identity HCF × LCM = a × b for two numbers a and b is frequently tested.

More math abbreviations

  • dim – Dimension
  • exp – Exponential function
  • FOIL – First, Outer, Inner, Last
  • FTC – Fundamental theorem of calculus
  • GCD – Greatest common divisor
  • GCF – Greatest common factor
  • HL – Hypotenuse-Leg (congruence)
  • iff – If and only if
  • Im – Imaginary part
  • inf – Infimum
  • IVT – Intermediate value theorem
  • K – Thousand

See all 91 math abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.