To answer this question, we will write each number as a multiplication of prime numbers.
Notice that:
[tex]336=2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot7\cdot3,[/tex][tex]240=2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot3\cdot5.[/tex]Therefore, the HCF of 240 and 336 is:
[tex]2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot3=16\cdot3=48.[/tex]Answer:
[tex]48.[/tex]