LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (L.C.M)

 APPLICATIONS OF L.C.M IN REAL LIFE 

Introduction

In order to find the LCM of two or more numbers:

i. List the multiples of each of the numbers,

ii. List the common multiples of two or more numbers

iii. The smallest of the common multiples is the

L.C.M of the numbers

Worked out examples

METHOD ONE

USING MULTIPLES OF NUMBERS

Find the LCM of the following set of numbers:

a). 3 and 4

b). 5 and 7

c). 3, 4, and 5

a). The multiples of 3 are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39 ...... 

4 are 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, e.t.c 

The common multiples are 12, 24, 36 ....... e.t.c 

The least common multiple (L.C.M) is 12

b).The multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55,60, 65, 70 ...... e.tc. 

The multiples of 7 are 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77 ....... e.t.c 

The common multiples are 35, 70, e.t.c 

The least common multiple (L.C.M) is 35

c). The multiples of 3 are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 69.... e.t.c 

4 are 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76 ...... e.t.c 

5 are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75..... e.t.c 

The common multiple is 60 

The LCM is 60