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What is LCM

2 years ago

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409 Replies

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I

Iftikhar


please explain it briefly

409 Answers

R
Rihan K

LCM stands for Least Common Multiple. The least common multiple of two or more numbers is the smallest positive number that is divisible by each of those numbers.

Some key properties of LCM:

  • The LCM of two numbers contains all the prime factors common to both numbers
  • To find the LCM, find all the prime factors of each number and multiply together the highest powers of each prime factor
  • The LCM of a set of numbers is the smallest number (not zero) that can be evenly divided by each number in the set
  • The LCM of two numbers can be calculated using the formula: LCM(a,b) = (a*b) / GCD(a,b), where GCD is the greatest common divisor

Some examples:

  • LCM(2,3) = 6 (factors are 2, 3)
  • LCM(2,8) = 8 (factors are 2, 2, 2)
  • LCM(5,10,15) = 30 (factors are 5, 2, 3)

The LCM has many practical applications from figuring out lowest common denominators to combining rhythms in music composition. Understanding the concept of LCM is foundational for higher math and useful across many disciplines.

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LCM stands for "Least Common Multiple." It helps us find the smallest number, that is a multiple of two or more other numbers. Let's use some examples:


Example 1: Let's say you have two numbers, 4 and 6. We want to find the LCM of these two numbers.


First, we list the multiples of each number:

- Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, ...

- Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, ...


Now, we look for the smallest number that appears in both lists. In this case, 12 is the smallest number that is a multiple of both 4 and 6. So, the LCM of 4 and 6 is 12.


Example 2: Let's try three numbers this time: 3, 5, and 7.


First, we list the multiples of each number:

- Multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ...

- Multiples of 5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ...

- Multiples of 7: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, ...


Now, we look for the smallest number that appears in all three lists. In this case, 15 is the smallest number that is a multiple of 3, 5, and 7. So, the LCM of 3, 5, and 7 is 15.


The LCM helps us when we need to do things like adding or subtracting fractions with different denominators or solving problems involving multiple numbers. 

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LCM stands for “Least Common Multiple”, for example, the LCM, or Least common multiple of 6 and 9 is 18.

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L
Lori Evans

Lowest common multiple

C
Connor Summerell

Hi Iftikhar,

LCM stands for Lowest Common Multiple.

This is the lowest number that is a multiple (is in the times table of) a set of other numbers.

For example ,if we were looking for the lowest common multiple of 4 and 5 :

first we would write out the 4 times table (its good to do the first 5 to start with)

for the 4 times table: 4, 8,12 ,16,20

for the 5 times table: 5,10,15,20,25

then we look to see if a number is in both of these lists.

In this example we can see 20 is in both of these lists therefore the Lowest Common Multiple of 4 and 5 is 20.

Bonus tip: if we do this process and 2 numbers appear in both lists we pick the lowest (the L in LCM!)


R
Rameez Din

LCM stands for Lowest Common Multiple. this is the smallest number that is common between 2 or more numbers

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LCM stands for Least Common Multiple. In the question, usually they give you two or three values and ask to find the least common multiple (LCM). The easiest way to find the answer is to list the multiples of the values and once a common multiple is found, bam, well you got the answer.


for example, question asks you, "Find the LCM of 24 & 18".

List the multiples of 24 and 18 like below

24 -> 48, 72, 96

18 -> 36, 54, 72


The answer is 72 as it is the smallest multiple (or least common multiple) for both values.






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This stands for lowest common multiple for 2 numbers, for example the LCM of 5 and 6 would be 30 as this is the smallest number that is divisible by both 5 and 6.

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R
Rosie

LCM stands for "Least Common Multiple." In mathematics, it refers to the smallest multiple that two or more numbers have in common. For example, the LCM of 4 and 6 is 12, because it's the smallest number that both 4 and 6 divide evenly into. Hope this helps !

C
Celissia Ehiwarior

LCM means the lowest common multiple. The lcm is the smallest multiple that two or more numbers share. It is the smallest number that can be divided by each of the given numbers without leaving a remainder. For example the lcm of 4 and 6 is 12 because it’s the smallest number that both 4 and 6 can go into without leaving any remainders and evenly divides.


A
Ashan Bala

An LCM is known as the Lowest Common Multiple. You are normally asked the Lowest Common Multiple of 2 or more numbers. If you wrote the times tables of these 2 numbers individually, it is the lowest number on both of the times tables lists.

E
Emmanuel Kwame

Least common multiple

C
Charlotte Barber

The LCM stands for Lowest Common Multiple and it is the smallest number that two or more numbers can divide into evenly, as whole numbers.

J
Justin Raine

LCM, or Least Common Multiple, is the smallest positive number that is a multiple of two or more numbers. In other words, it's the smallest number that all the given numbers divide into evenly.


Detailed Explanation:

1.Multiples: A multiple of a number is the result of multiplying that number by an integer. For example, the multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 12, 16, and so on.


2. Finding the LCM:

  -List Method: List the multiples of each number until you find the smallest multiple they have in common.

   - Example: For 4 and 6:

    - Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20...

    - Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24...

    - The LCM is 12, as it’s the first common multiple.

 

M
Mrs Bibi

Least Common Multiple 

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