Euclid's Division Algorithm Practice Questions

Last Updated : 8 Jul, 2026

Euclid's Division Algorithm is a method used to find the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) or Highest Common Factor (HCF) of two positive integers.

  • It works by repeatedly dividing the larger number by the smaller number and replacing the larger number with the remainder until the remainder becomes 0.
  • The last non-zero remainder is the GCD of the two numbers.

Question 1: Find the GCD of 315 and 84 using the Euclidean Division Algorithm.

Solution:

Given, a = 315 and b = 84

Divide 315 by 84.

315 = 84 × 3 + 63

Replace a with 84 and b with 63.

84 = 63 × 1 + 21

Replace a with 63 and b with 21.

63 = 21 × 3 + 0

Stop because the remainder is 0.

Therefore, GCD(315, 84) = 21

Question 2: Find two integers x and y such that 99x + 78y = GCD(99, 78)

Solution:

First, find the GCD using Euclid's Algorithm.

99 = 78 × 1 + 21 ...(i)

78 = 21 × 3 + 15 ...(ii)

21 = 15 × 1 + 6 ...(iii)

15 = 6 × 2 + 3 ...(iv)

6 = 3 × 2 + 0 ...(v)

So, GCD(99, 78) = 3

Now express 3 as a linear combination of 99 and 78.

From (iv), 3 = 15 − 6 × 2

From (iii), 6 = 21 − 15

Substitute, 3 = 15 − (21 − 15) × 2

3 = 15 × 3 − 21 × 2

From (ii), 15 = 78 − 21 × 3

Substitute, 3 = (78 − 21 × 3) × 3 − 21 × 2

3 = 78 × 3 − 21 × 11

From (i), 21 = 99 − 78

Substitute, 3 = 78 × 3 − (99 − 78) × 11

3 = 78 × 14 − 99 × 11

Therefore, x = -11 and y = 14.

Question 3: Find the GCD of 924 and 396 using the Euclidean Division Algorithm.

Solution:

Given, a = 924 and b = 396

924 = 396 × 2 + 132

396 = 132 × 3 + 0

Stop because the remainder is 0.

Therefore, GCD(924, 396) = 132.

Question 4: Find two integers x and y such that 65x + 40y = GCD(65, 40)

Solution:

First, find the GCD.

65 = 40 × 1 + 25 ...(i)

40 = 25 × 1 + 15 ...(ii)

25 = 15 × 1 + 10 ...(iii)

15 = 10 × 1 + 5 ...(iv)

10 = 5 × 2 + 0 ...(v)

So, GCD(65, 40) = 5

Now express 5 as a combination of 65 and 40.

From (iv), 5 = 15 − 10

From (iii), 10 = 25 − 15

Substitute, 5 = 15 − (25 − 15)

5 = 15 × 2 − 25

From (ii), 15 = 40 − 25

Substitute, 5 = (40 − 25) × 2 − 25

5 = 40 × 2 − 25 × 3

From (i), 25 = 65 − 40

Substitute, 5 = 40 × 2 − (65 − 40) × 3

5 = 40 × 5 − 65 × 3

Therefore, x = -3 and y = 5.

Question 5: Find the GCD of 1029 and 294 using the Euclidean Division Algorithm.

Solution:

Given, a = 1029 and b = 294

1029 = 294 × 3 + 147

294 = 147 × 2 + 0

Stop because the remainder is 0.

Therefore, GCD(1029, 294) = 147.

Practice Questions

Question 1: Find the GCD of 420 and 126, using the Euclidean Division Algorithm.

Question 2: Find two integers x and y such that 56x + 15y = GCD(56, 15), using the Extended Euclidean Algorithm.

Question 3: Prove that GCD(198, 126) = GCD(126, 72), using the Euclidean Division Algorithm.

Question 4: Find the GCD of 735 and 294, using the Euclidean Division Algorithm.

Question 5: Find two integers x and y such that 119x + 34y = GCD(119, 34) ,using the Extended Euclidean Algorithm.

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