LCM | Lowest Common Multiple
LCM or Lowest Common Multiple is the lowest multiple that a set of numbers can divide into.
For example. With 6 and 8 the smallest number that both 6 and 8 will divide into is 24.
Let's look at an easy way to figure out the least common multiple for any set of numbers.
Example: Find the LCM of 12 and 30.
First, we find the prime numbers that multiply together to give us each number.
12 = 2 * 2 * 3 (these are the prime numbers that multiplied together equal 12)
30 = 2 * 3 * 5 (these are the prime numbers that multiplied together equal 30)
We then need to multiply all the prime numbers together. The only thing to remember is that if one of the numbers repeats itself, it is included only once.Since there is a 2 in both 12 and 30, and a 3 in both 12 and 30 we will disregard one of the 2's and one of the 3's. So we now have 2 * 2 * 3 * 5 = 60.
The LCM of 12 and 30 is 60.
Watch the math video below for a detailed explanation!