111 cows, 185 sheep and 296 goats are to be taken across a river. There is only one boat and the boatsman says; he will take the same number and same kind of animals in each trip. Find the largest number of animals in each trip and the number of trips he will have to make.
We have,
Number of cows = 111
Number of sheep = 185
Number of goats = 296
According to the condition of the boatsman, we need to find HCF of 111, 185 and 296
111 = 3 × 37;
185 = 5 × 37;
296 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 37
∴ the HCF = 37
So, the number of animals of same kind = 37.
Number of trips
= 3 + 5 + 8 = 16
Hence, the number of animals in each trip = 37
and the number of trips = 16