144=2×2×2×2×3×3; 108=2×2×3×3×3; 90=2×3×3×5. These are the factors. They all contain at least one 2, so we make a note of 2 as a common factor. Also, 3×3=9 is a common factor, so we make a note of 9. We can remove 2×3×3 from each set: 8, 6, 5. There are no more common factors, so 2×3×3=18 is the highest common factor, and this tells us how many baskets we need: 18. Each basket will contain 8 apples, 6 oranges and 5 pears.