Least Common Multiple
- It is the smallest positive -->> that is a multiple of two or more numbers.
- We get a -->> of a number when we multiply it by another number.
- Such as multiplying by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc, but not zero, just like the -->> table.
What is a "Common Multiple" ?
- When we list the multiples of (for example) 4 and 5, the -->> multiples are those that are found in both lists:
The multiples of 4 are: 4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32,36,40,44,...
The multiples of 5 are: 5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,...
- Notice that 20 and 40 appear in -->> lists?
- So, the common multiples of 4 and 5 are: 20, 40, (and 60, 80, etc ..., too)
What is the "-->> Common Multiple" ?
- It is simply the smallest of the common multiples.
- In our previous example, the smallest of the common multiples is 20 ...
- ... so the Least Common Multiple of 4 and 5 is 20.
Finding the Least Common Multiple
- List the multiples of the -->> until we get our first match.
- Example: Find the least common multiple of 4 and 10
- The multiples of 4 are: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, ...
- and the multiples of 10 are: 10, 20, ...
- Aha! there is a -->> at 20.
- LCM of 4 and 10 is 20
LCM is the product of the common and the
uncommon factors, taken only -->>,
with the higher exponents
- More examples if you input the three text areas and click the 'factorize' button