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Real NumbersCBSE Class 10 Maths Important Questions

13 hand-picked CBSE Class 10 Maths important questions for Real Numbers, each with a full model answer — the formats and topics most likely to appear in your board exam.

13
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6
Question types
32
Total marks
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Real NumbersCBSE Class 10 Maths Important Questions

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Quick answer

The highest-yield Real Numbers questions are: proving 2, 3, 5\sqrt2,\ \sqrt3,\ \sqrt52, 3, 5 (and numbers like 3+253+2\sqrt53+25) irrational, finding HCF and LCM by prime factorisation using HCF(a,b)×LCM(a,b)=a×b\text{HCF}(a,b)\times\text{LCM}(a,b)=a\times bHCF(a,b)×LCM(a,b)=a× b, and deciding when a fraction pq\frac{p}{q}p/q gives a terminating decimal (only when q=2n5mq=2^n5^mq=2^n5^m). Word problems on HCF/LCM appear almost every year.

About Real Numbers

Real Numbers opens Class 10 Maths. It builds on the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic — every composite number is a unique product of primes, for example 196=22×72196=2^2\times7^2196=2^2×7^2 — and uses it to find HCF and LCM, to decide when a fraction terminates, and to prove that numbers such as 2\sqrt22 and 5\sqrt55 are irrational.

Fundamental Theorem of ArithmeticHCF & LCM by prime factorisationHCF × LCM = product of two numbersProving irrationality of surdsTerminating vs non-terminating decimals

Key concepts & formulas

Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic

Every composite number can be written as a product of primes, and this factorisation is unique apart from the order of the factors. Example: 360=23×32×5360 = 2^3\times3^2\times5360 = 2^3×3^2×5.

HCF and LCM relation

For any two positive integers, HCF(a,b)×LCM(a,b)=a×b\text{HCF}(a,b)\times\text{LCM}(a,b)=a\times bHCF(a,b)×LCM(a,b)=a× b. The HCF always divides the LCM.

Terminating decimals

A rational number pq\frac{p}{q}p/q in lowest terms terminates iff qqq has no prime factor other than 222 or 555, i.e. q=2n5mq=2^n5^mq=2^n5^m.

Irrational surds

p\sqrt pp is irrational for every prime ppp. Proofs use contradiction: assume p=ab\sqrt p=\frac{a}{b}p=a/b in lowest terms and derive a common factor.

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Important questions with answers

Try each on paper first, then reveal the model answer to check your method.

Question typeCountMarks
MCQ41
Assertion–Reason11
Very Short22
Short Answer33
Long Answer25
Case-based14

Multiple-choice questions (1 mark)

Q1MCQEasy1 mark

The sum of the exponents of the prime factors in the prime factorisation of 196196196 is:

  1. (a)

    111

  2. (b)

    222

  3. (c)

    444

  4. (d)

    666

Show model answer

Answer: (c) 444.

Factorising 196=2×98=22×72196=2\times98=2^2\times7^2196=2×98=2^2×7^2. The exponents are 222 and 222, so their sum is 2+2=42+2=42+2=4.

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Q2MCQModerate1 mark

If HCF(a,b)=12\text{HCF}(a,b)=12HCF(a,b)=12 and a×b=1800a\times b=1800a× b=1800, then LCM(a,b)\text{LCM}(a,b)LCM(a,b) is:

  1. (a)

    360036003600

  2. (b)

    150150150

  3. (c)

    180180180

  4. (d)

    900900900

Show model answer

Answer: (b) 150150150.

Using HCF×LCM=a×b\text{HCF}\times\text{LCM}=a\times bHCF×LCM=a× b:
LCM=a×bHCF=180012=150.\text{LCM}=\frac{a\times b}{\text{HCF}}=\frac{1800}{12}=150.LCM=a× b/HCF=1800/12=150.

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Q3MCQModerate1 mark

After how many decimal places will the decimal expansion of 2323×52\dfrac{23}{2^3\times5^2}23/2^3×5^2 terminate?

  1. (a)

    222

  2. (b)

    333

  3. (c)

    444

  4. (d)

    111

Show model answer

Answer: (b) 333.

The denominator is 23×522^3\times5^22^3×5^2, of the form 2n5m2^n5^m2^n5^m with n=3, m=2n=3,\ m=2n=3, m=2. The expansion terminates after max(n,m)=3\max(n,m)=3(n,m)=3 places, since 23200=0.115\dfrac{23}{200}=0.11523/200=0.115.

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Q4MCQHOTS1 mark

The LCM of two numbers is 120012001200. Which of the following cannot be their HCF?

  1. (a)

    600600600

  2. (b)

    500500500

  3. (c)

    400400400

  4. (d)

    200200200

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Answer: (b) 500500500.

The HCF of two numbers must always be a factor of their LCM. Here 600, 400, 200600,\ 400,\ 200600, 400, 200 all divide 120012001200, but 1200÷500=2.41200\div500=2.41200÷500=2.4 is not an integer, so 500500500 cannot be the HCF.

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Assertion–Reason questions (1 mark)

Q5Assertion–ReasonModerate1 mark

Assertion (A): 2\sqrt22 is an irrational number.

Reason (R): The square root of every prime number is irrational.

  1. (a)

    Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. (b)

    Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. (c)

    A is true but R is false

  4. (d)

    A is false but R is true

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Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Since 222 is prime and the square root of every prime is irrational, 2\sqrt22 is irrational — so R correctly explains A.

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Very short answer questions (2 marks)

Q6Very ShortEasy2 marks

Find the HCF and LCM of 969696 and 404404404 by the prime factorisation method.

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96=25×396=2^5\times396=2^5×3 and 404=22×101404=2^2\times101404=2^2×101.

HCF=22=4,LCM=25×3×101=9696.\text{HCF}=2^2=4,\qquad \text{LCM}=2^5\times3\times101=9696.HCF=2^2=4, LCM=2^5×3×101=9696.

Check: HCF×LCM=4×9696=38784=96×404.\text{HCF}\times\text{LCM}=4\times9696=38784=96\times404.HCF×LCM=4×9696=38784=96×404.

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Q7Very ShortModerate2 marks

Find the HCF and LCM of 262626 and 919191, and verify that HCF×LCM=\text{HCF}\times\text{LCM}=HCF×LCM= product of the two numbers.

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26=2×1326=2\times1326=2×13 and 91=7×1391=7\times1391=7×13.

HCF=13,LCM=2×7×13=182.\text{HCF}=13,\qquad \text{LCM}=2\times7\times13=182.HCF=13, LCM=2×7×13=182.

Verify: HCF×LCM=13×182=2366\text{HCF}\times\text{LCM}=13\times182=2366HCF×LCM=13×182=2366 and 26×91=2366.26\times91=2366.26×91=2366.

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Short answer questions (3 marks)

Q8Short AnswerModerate3 marks

Prove that 5\sqrt55 is an irrational number.

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Assume, to the contrary, that 5\sqrt55 is rational. Then 5=ab\sqrt5=\dfrac{a}{b}5=a/b where a,ba,ba,b are integers with no common factor other than 111 and b0b\neq0b≠0.

Squaring: 5=a2b2a2=5b25=\dfrac{a^2}{b^2}\Rightarrow a^2=5b^25=a^2/b^2 a^2=5b^2. So 555 divides a2a^2a^2, hence 555 divides aaa. Write a=5ca=5ca=5c.

Then (5c)2=5b225c2=5b2b2=5c2(5c)^2=5b^2\Rightarrow 25c^2=5b^2\Rightarrow b^2=5c^2(5c)^2=5b^2 25c^2=5b^2 b^2=5c^2, so 555 divides b2b^2b^2, hence 555 divides bbb.

Now 555 divides both aaa and bbb, contradicting that they have no common factor. Therefore 5\sqrt55 is irrational.

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Q9Short AnswerHOTS3 marks

Find the largest number that divides 245245245 and 102910291029, leaving a remainder of 555 in each case.

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Subtract the remainder first: 2455=240245-5=240245-5=240 and 10295=10241029-5=10241029-5=1024.

The required number is HCF(240,1024)\text{HCF}(240,1024)HCF(240,1024).

240=24×3×5240=2^4\times3\times5240=2^4×3×5 and 1024=2101024=2^{10}1024=2^10, so HCF=24=16\text{HCF}=2^4=16HCF=2^4=16.

The largest such number is 16\boxed{16}16.

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Q10Short AnswerModerate3 marks

Three bells toll at intervals of 9, 129,\ 129, 12 and 151515 minutes respectively. If they toll together at 8:008{:}008:00 a.m., at what time will they next toll together?

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They toll together again after LCM(9,12,15)\text{LCM}(9,12,15)LCM(9,12,15) minutes.

9=32, 12=22×3, 15=3×59=3^2,\ 12=2^2\times3,\ 15=3\times59=3^2, 12=2^2×3, 15=3×5, so
LCM=22×32×5=180 minutes=3 hours.\text{LCM}=2^2\times3^2\times5=180\text{ minutes}=3\text{ hours}.LCM=2^2×3^2×5=180 minutes=3 hours.

So they next toll together at 8:00+3=11:008{:}00+3=\mathbf{11{:}00}8:00+3=11:00 a.m.

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Long answer questions (5 marks)

Q11Long AnswerModerate5 marks

Prove that 3+253+2\sqrt53+25 is irrational, given that 5\sqrt55 is irrational.

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Assume, to the contrary, that 3+253+2\sqrt53+25 is rational. Then 3+25=pq3+2\sqrt5=\dfrac{p}{q}3+25=p/q for integers p,q (q0)p,q\ (q\neq0)p,q (q≠0).

Rearranging:
25=pq3=p3qq5=p3q2q.2\sqrt5=\frac{p}{q}-3=\frac{p-3q}{q}\Rightarrow \sqrt5=\frac{p-3q}{2q}.25=p/q-3=p-3q/q 5=p-3q/2q.

The right-hand side is a ratio of integers, hence rational, so 5\sqrt55 would be rational.

This contradicts the given fact that 5\sqrt55 is irrational. Therefore 3+253+2\sqrt53+25 is irrational.

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Q12Long AnswerHOTS5 marks

A sweet seller has 420420420 kaju barfis and 130130130 badam barfis. She wants to stack them so that each stack has the same number of barfis and takes up the least area of the tray. How many barfis can be placed in each stack, and how many stacks of each kind are formed?

Show model answer

For the least area, each stack must hold the greatest possible equal number, which is HCF(420,130)\text{HCF}(420,130)HCF(420,130).

420=22×3×5×7420=2^2\times3\times5\times7420=2^2×3×5×7 and 130=2×5×13130=2\times5\times13130=2×5×13, so
HCF=2×5=10.\text{HCF}=2\times5=10.HCF=2×5=10.

So 101010 barfis go in each stack.

Kaju stacks =42010=42=\dfrac{420}{10}=42=420/10=42, and badam stacks =13010=13=\dfrac{130}{10}=13=130/10=13.

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Case-based questions (4 marks)

Q13Case-basedModerate4 marks

A charity wants to pack 144144144 pens and 909090 pencils into identical gift kits, with no pen or pencil left over and using the greatest possible number of kits.

(i) What is the maximum number of kits that can be made?
(ii) How many pens go into each kit?
(iii) How many pencils go into each kit?

Show model answer

The maximum number of identical kits is HCF(144,90)\text{HCF}(144,90)HCF(144,90).

144=24×32144=2^4\times3^2144=2^4×3^2 and 90=2×32×590=2\times3^2\times590=2×3^2×5, so HCF=2×32=18\text{HCF}=2\times3^2=18HCF=2×3^2=18.

(i) Maximum kits =18=18=18.
(ii) Pens per kit =14418=8=\dfrac{144}{18}=8=144/18=8.
(iii) Pencils per kit =9018=5=\dfrac{90}{18}=5=90/18=5.

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  • Are these Real Numbers important questions free?
    Yes. All 13 CBSE Class 10 Maths important questions for Real Numbers are free, with full model answers and no login required.
  • Do these Real Numbers questions follow the latest CBSE syllabus?
    Yes — they are aligned to the NCERT 2026–27 syllabus for CBSE Class 10 Maths, so nothing here is outside the current course.
  • How should I practise the Real Numbers important questions?
    Attempt each question on paper first, then reveal the model answer to check your method — not just the final result. Re-do anything you got wrong the same day.
  • What types of questions are covered for Real Numbers?
    A full mix — multiple-choice questions, assertion–reason questions, very short answer questions, short answer questions, long answer questions, case-based questions — so every format in the CBSE paper is covered.

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