Shortcut Trick
To minimize the number of rows, each row must contain the maximum possible number of identical trees.
Maximum trees per row = HCF(33, 55, 88) = 11 trees.
Minimum number of rows = Total Trees ÷ Trees per row
⇒ Rows = (33 + 55 + 88) ÷ 11 = 176 ÷ 11 = 16 rows.
∴ The correct answer is 16 rows.
Alternate Method
Given:
Number of guava trees = 33
Number of banana trees = 55
Number of malta trees = 88
Guava (33)
11
11
11
→ 3 rows
Banana (55)
11
11
11
11
11
→ 5 rows
Malta (88)
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
→ 8 rows
Total minimum rows = 3 + 5 + 8 = 16
Concept Used:
To keep the number of rows to an absolute minimum, each row must contain the greatest possible number of trees. This requires finding the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of the separate tree quantities.
Calculation:
⇒ Finding the HCF of 33, 55, and 88:
⇒ 33 = 3 × 11
⇒ 55 = 5 × 11
⇒ 88 = 23 × 11
⇒ HCF (33, 55, 88) = 11
⇒ Thus, each row will perfectly contain 11 trees of the same type.
Now, calculate the individual row counts:
⇒ Rows of guava trees = 33 ÷ 11 = 3 rows
⇒ Rows of banana trees = 55 ÷ 11 = 5 rows
⇒ Rows of malta trees = 88 ÷ 11 = 8 rows
⇒ Minimum total rows = 3 + 5 + 8 = 16 rows
∴ The correct answer is 16 rows.
Additional Information
Highest Common Factor (HCF)
The HCF is the largest positive integer that divides two or more numbers without leaving a remainder. It is widely used in division and grouping problems to maximize the size of equal groups.
Application of HCF in Real-life Grouping
Whenever diverse items need to be arranged into the minimum possible identical rows or containers without mixing them, the quantity per group should equal their HCF. The minimum number of groups is found by the formula: (Total sum of all items) ÷ HCF.
Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Contrasting with HCF, LCM finds the smallest multiple common to the numbers. It is primarily applied in synchronization problems, like finding when distinct events will repeat together.