Answer:
Step-by-step explanation: 42a
2
b=2⋅3⋅7⋅a
2
⋅b
36
3
=
2
2
⋅
3
2
⋅
3
⋅
36a
3
b=2
2
⋅3
2
⋅a
3
⋅b
Now, identify the common factors and take the lowest power for each:
Common factors:
2
2 (lowest power is
2
1
2
1
)
3
3 (lowest power is
3
1
3
1
)
a (lowest power is
2
a
2
)
b (lowest power is
1
b
1
)
Therefore, the HCF of
42
2
42a
2
b and
36
3
36a
3
b is:
2
⋅
3
⋅
2
⋅
=
6
2⋅3⋅a
2
⋅b=6ab
Thus, the highest common factor of
42
2
42a
2
b and
36
3
36a
3
b is
6
6ab
.