Class 10 Maths – Chapter 1: Real Numbers
(Detailed Notes)
Euclid’s Division Lemma
For any two positive integers a and b, there exist unique integers q and r such that: a = bq + r,
where 0 ≤ r < b.
■ Explanation: a = dividend, b = divisor, q = quotient, r = remainder.
Example 1: 225 ÷ 15 → 225 = 15 × 15 + 0
Example 2: 29 ÷ 5 → 29 = 5 × 5 + 4
■ Euclid’s Algorithm for HCF:
Step 1: Apply Euclid’s Lemma to a and b.
Step 2: Replace a with b, b with remainder r.
Step 3: Repeat until remainder = 0. The divisor at this step is the HCF.
Example: Find HCF of 4052 and 12576
12576 = 4052 × 3 + 420
4052 = 420 × 9 + 272
420 = 272 × 1 + 148
272 = 148 × 1 + 124
148 = 124 × 1 + 24
124 = 24 × 5 + 4
24 = 4 × 6 + 0
Hence, HCF = 4.
Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
Every composite number can be uniquely factorised as a product of prime numbers, apart from the
order of the factors.
Examples:
120 = 2³ × 3 × 5
504 = 2³ × 3² × 7
■ Applications:
1. To prove irrationality of numbers like √2, √3, √5, etc.
2. To find HCF and LCM of numbers easily.
3. To determine properties of terminating and non-terminating recurring decimals.
Irrational Numbers Proof
We use contradiction and the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic.
Example: Prove √2 is irrational.
■ Suppose √2 = p/q (in lowest form). Then 2 = p²/q² ⇒ p² = 2q².
So, p² is even ⇒ p is even ⇒ let p = 2k.
Then p² = 4k² = 2q² ⇒ q² = 2k² ⇒ q is even.
Thus both p and q are even, contradicting lowest form assumption.
Hence √2 is irrational.
Similarly, √3, √5, √7 are irrational.
HCF and LCM Using Prime Factorisation
■ HCF = product of smallest powers of common primes.
■ LCM = product of highest powers of all primes.
Example: Find HCF and LCM of 72 and 120.
72 = 2³ × 3²
120 = 2³ × 3 × 5
HCF = 2³ × 3 = 24
LCM = 2³ × 3² × 5 = 360
Also: HCF × LCM = product of numbers = 72 × 120 = 8640.
Terminating and Non-Terminating Decimals
■ A rational number in form p/q (q ≠ 0) is terminating iff denominator (in lowest form) has only 2
and/or 5 as prime factors.
Examples:
1/8 = 0.125 (terminating, since 8 = 2³)
1/20 = 0.05 (terminating, since 20 = 2² × 5)
Non-terminating recurring decimals occur when denominator has primes other than 2 and 5.
Example: 1/7 = 0.142857… (non-terminating repeating)
Thus, decimal expansion of rational numbers is either terminating or non-terminating recurring.
