Examples
Example 1: Find the LCM of 10, 20 and 30.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 10: 10 = 2, 5
Prime factorization of 20: 20 = 2, 2, 5
Prime factorization of 30: 30 = 2, 3, 5
Take the highest power of each prime factor and multiply them together to get LCM.
Therefore, LCM(10, 20, 30) = 60.
Example 2: Find the LCM of 16, 24 and 40.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 16: 16 = 2, 2, 2, 2
Prime factorization of 24: 24 = 2, 2, 2, 3
Prime factorization of 40: 40 = 2, 2, 2, 5
Take the highest power of each prime factor and multiply them together to get LCM.
Therefore, LCM(16, 24, 40) = 240.
Example 3: Find the LCM of 40, 50 and 20.
Solution:
Prime factorization of 40: 40 = 2, 2, 2, 5
Prime factorization of 50: 50 = 2, 5, 5
Prime factorization of 20: 20 = 2, 2, 5
Take the highest power of each prime factor and multiply them together to get LCM.
Therefore, LCM(40, 50, 20) = 200.
Exercise
1. LCM(12,18,24) = 72
2. LCM(15,25,30) = 150
3. LCM(21,28,35) = 420
4. LCM(27,36,54) = 108
5. LCM(14,21,35) = 210
6. LCM(25,30,45) = 450
7. LCM(16,20,24) = 240
8. LCM(42,56,70) = 840
9. LCM(16,40,64) = 320
10. LCM(27,36,45) = 540