Which of the following pairs of numbers is not coprime?
- AOption (a)
(173, 351)
- BOption (b)
(177, 827)
- COption (c)
(171, 273)
- DOption (d)
(127, 257)
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Correct answer
(171, 273)
Why this answer is correct
Shortcut Trick
Identify the pair where both numbers share a common factor using divisibility rules.
For the pair (171, 273):
Sum of digits of 171 = 1 + 7 + 1 = 9 (Divisible by 3).
Sum of digits of 273 = 2 + 7 + 3 = 12 (Divisible by 3).
Since both numbers are divisible by 3, their HCF is at least 3, making them not coprime.
∴ The correct answer is (171, 273).
Alternate Method
Given: Pairs of numbers to check for coprimality.
Definition: Two numbers are coprime if their Highest Common Factor (HCF) is 1.
Testing the pairs:
⇒ (173, 351): 173 is a prime number. 351 is not divisible by 173. HCF = 1 (Coprime).
⇒ (177, 827): 177 = 3 × 59. 827 is a prime number not divisible by 3 or 59. HCF = 1 (Coprime).
⇒ (171, 273):
⇒ Prime factors of 171 = 32 × 19
⇒ Prime factors of 273 = 3 × 7 × 13
⇒ HCF (171, 273) = 3
⇒ Since HCF ≠ 1, the numbers are not coprime.
⇒ (127, 257): Both 127 and 257 are prime numbers. HCF = 1 (Coprime).
∴ The correct answer is (171, 273).
Additional Information
Coprime Numbers
Two numbers a and b are called coprime or relatively prime if the only positive integer that divides both of them is 1, i.e., HCF(a, b) = 1.
Divisibility Rule of 3
A number is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is a multiple of 3. This is the fastest way to check for a common factor of 3 in large numbers.
Properties of Coprime Pairs
Any two consecutive integers are always coprime. Any two prime numbers are always coprime. The Least Common Multiple (LCM) of two coprime numbers is always their product (a × b).