The least common multiple is the smallest positive integer that is divisible by both given numbers.
The Least Common Multiple (LCM) of a group of numbers is the smallest number that is a multiple of all the numbers. For instance, the LCM of 16 and 20 is 80; 80 is the smallest number that is both a multiple of 16 and a multiple of 20. You can find the LCM of two or more numbers through various methods.
This is an ideal method for larger numbers.This method is factoring both numbers down to the prime numbers that are multiplied to create that number as a product.
For Example :- Let's say you're looking for the least common multiple of 20 and 42. Here's how you would factor them 20 = 2 x 2 x 5 and 42 = 2 x 3 x 7
If the number just occurs in one number, then it has one occurrence. Here is a list of the most occurrences of each prime number from the previous example 2 → 2 times 3 → 1 time 5 → 1 time 7 → 1 time
Since 2 occurs twice, you'll have to multiply it twice. Here's what you should do to find the LCM: 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 7 = 420.
Find Common multiples
of 2 and 3 are simply the numbers that are in both lists:
Multiples of 2 are: 2,4,6,8,10,12,16,18,20
Multiples of 3 are: 3,6,9,12,15,18,21
6,12,18……
So the least common multiple of 2 and 3 is the smallest in one of those: 6
We have to find prime factors that occurs the maximum number of times in any of
the numbers.
15 = 5 × 3
25 = 5 × 5
The maximum number of 3 occurs for 15. That is 3
The maximum number of 5 occurs for 25. That is 5 × 5
Now do the product of the prime factors that you found the maximum number of times
in both numbers.
Thus, LCM = 3 × 5 × 5 = 75
The LCM of 15 and 25 is 75.
The prime factorizations of 20, 28 and 25 are : -
20 = 2 × 2 × 5
28 = 2 × 2 × 7
25 = 5 × 5
The prime factor 2 appears maximum number of two times in the prime factorization
of 20 and 28. We will take 2 × 2.
The prime factor 7 occurs one time in the factorization of 28
In the prime factorization of 25, the prime factor 5 appears two times.
We will take 5 × 5
Now do the product of the prime factors that you found the maximum number of times
in each of numbers.
Thus, LCM= 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 × 7 = 700
We have to find prime factors that occurs the maximum number of times in any of
the numbers.
6 = 2 × 3
8 = 2 × 2 x 2
The prime factor 2 appears maximum number of four times in the prime factorization of 6 and 8. We will take 2 × 2 x 2.
The prime factor 3 appears maximum number of one times in the prime factorization of 6 and 8. We will take 3
Now do the product of the prime factors that you found the maximum number of times
in both numbers.
Thus, LCM = 2 × 3 x 2 × 2 = 24
The LCM of 6 and 8 is 24.
We have to find prime factors that occurs the maximum number of times in any of
the numbers.
8 = 2 x 2 x 2
12 = 2 x 2 x 3
The prime factor 2 appears maximum number of five times in the prime factorization of 8 and 12. We will take 2 × 2 x 2.
The prime factor 3 appears maximum number of one times in the prime factorization of 8 and 12. We will take 3
Now do the product of the prime factors that you found the maximum number of times
in both numbers.
Thus, LCM = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 = 24
The LCM of 8 and 12 is 24.
We have to find prime factors that occurs the maximum number of times in any of
the numbers.
9 = 3 × 3
12 = 3 × 2 x 2
The prime factor 3 appears maximum number of three times in the prime factorization of 9 and 12. We will take 3 x 3.
The prime factor 2 appears maximum number of two times in the prime factorization of 9 and 12. We will take 2 x 2
Now do the product of the prime factors that you found the maximum number of times
in both numbers.
Thus, LCM = 3 × 3 x 2 × 2 = 36
The LCM of 9 and 12 is 36.
We have to find prime factors that occurs the maximum number of times in any of
the numbers.
6 = 3 × 2
9 = 3 × 3
The prime factor 3 appears maximum number of three times in the prime factorization of 6 and 9. We will take 3 x 3.
The prime factor 2 appears maximum number of one times in the prime factorization of 6 and 9. We will take 2
Now do the product of the prime factors that you found the maximum number of times
in both numbers.
Thus, LCM = 3 × 3 x 2 = 18
The LCM of 6 and 9 is 18.
Write the numbers at the top of the Common Factors Grid (as shown in the example). Leave a small space to the left of the numbers and as much space as you can below the numbers. Let's say we're working with the numbers 18, 12, and 30. Just write each number down in its own row at the top of the grid.
Write the lowest common prime factor of the numbers in the space to the left. Just look out for the smallest prime factor (such as 2, 3, or 5) that you can pull out of all the numbers. They're all even, so you can pull out 2.
Divide each of the original numbers by the common prime factor. Write the quotient below each number. Here's how to do it:
18/2 = 9, so write 9 below 18.
12/2 = 6, so write 6 below 12.
30/2 = 15, so write 15 below 30.
Repeat the process of pulling out and dividing by the lowest prime factor until no more common factors exist. Just repeat the process from the previous steps using the numbers 9, 6, and 15 this time.
Pull out a 3 from these numbers. 3 is the lowest prime factor, or the smallest prime number that is evenly divisible by both numbers. Find the Least Common Multiple of Two Numbers
Divide all three numbers by 3 and write the result below those numbers. Find the Least Common Multiple of Two Numbers
9/3 = 3, so write a 3 below the 9; 6/3 = 2, so write a 2 below the 6; 15/3 = 5 so write a 5 below the 15.
If two of the numbers still share a prime common factor, then continue the process until no pair of bottom numbers have a common factor. In this particular example, you're done.
For example, if the bottom three numbers are 2, 39, and 122, divide 2 and 122 by 2 leaving the new bottom row as 1, 39, and 61.
Multiply all the numbers of the first column containing the common prime factors with the numbers at the bottoms of all the other columns. This is the LCM. In this example, the product of the common factor column is 6 (2 x 3). Multiply 6 by the numbers at the bottoms of the other columns: 6 x 3 x 2 x 5 = 180.
The LCM of 18, 12, and 30 is 180.
If we first divide the numbers 10, 20 and 40 by 2. We get the quotient 5, 10,
20.
Keep on dividing the quotient with 2, 3 and 5 respectively until you get 1 in the
all row at last.
Now multiply all the divisors to get LCM of given numbers.
Thus, LCM= 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 = 200
LCM of 10, 20 < 40 is 200.
We required the tanker that has minimum capacity to hold the water from both water
containers in an exact number of times.
The minimum capacity of such a tanker is LCM of 250 and 550.
We can find it by division method also.
Now multiply all the divisors to get LCM of given numbers.
Thus, LCM= 2 × 5 × 5 × 5 × 11 = 2750
LCM of 250 and 550 is 2750.
Therefore, minimum capacity of such a tanker is 2750 litres.
The first container will fill the tanker by 11 times and the second will by 5 times.
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