Answer :
The longest possible length for each of the shorter lengths of ribbon that Alannah can cut, without wasting any ribbon, is 9 cm.
To determine the longest possible length for each of the shorter lengths of ribbon that Alannah can cut from the two lengths of 36 cm and 45 cm, we need to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the two lengths.
List the Factors:
Factors of 36: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36
Factors of 45: 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 45
Identify Common Factors:
The common factors of 36 and 45 are: 1, 3, and 9
Find the Greatest Common Factor (GCD):
The largest common factor is 9.