Republic of the Philippines

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

RC-AL KHWARIZMI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION, INC.
Department of Liberal Arts
National Highway, Basak Malutlut, Marawi City

LAS #7 Date: _____________________________

Course Number: Math 1 Course Title: Fundamentals of Mathematics
Topic: Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Objective: Find the least common multiple of a given set of numbers through three methods.
Activity Title: Finding the least common multiple of a given set of numbers through four methods.
Reference: Beyond Math by Loly Ong, Angelyn R. Lao, Maria Jenny Tan, & Judy W. Sy

CONCEPT NOTES

The Least Common Multiple (LCM) is the smallest common multiple of two or more numbers.

Here are three methods used in finding the LCM of a set of numbers.

I. Listing Method

Steps:
1. List down all the multiples of the given numbers and group them by sets enclosed by {}.
2. List down another set containing the common factors of the sets created in step 1.
3. The LCM is the least multiple in the new set.
Example 1: Find the LCM of 36 and 54.
Solution:
Step 1: 𝑀36 = {36, 72, 108, 144, 180, 216, 252, . . . }
𝑀54 = {54, 108,162, 216, 270, 324, 378, . . . }
Step 2: Set of common multiples of 𝑀36 and 𝑀54 is {108, 216, . . . }
Step 3: LCM of 36 and 54 is 108, since 108 is the least value in the set of common multiples.

II. Prime Factorization

Steps:
1. Find the prime factorization of each given number.
2. Copy all the prime factors in any of the given numbers with the highest exponent or power.
3. The product of the prime factors in step 2 is the LCM.
Example 2: Find the LCM of 36 and 54.
Solution:
Step 1: 54 = 2 × 33
36 = 22 × 32 .
Step 2:
 For 2, we have 22 since the highest power for 2 that appears in 36 and 54 is 2.
 For 3, we have 33 since the highest power for 2 that appears in 36 and 54 is 3.
Step 3: LCM (54,36) = 32 × 22 = 108.

III. Continuous Division Method

Steps:
1. Arrange the numbers horizontal direction.
2. Find the common factor of at least any two of the given numbers.
3. Repeat step 2 until a common factor cannot be found.
4. Multiply all the determined and the remaining factors of the given numbers.
Example 3: Find the LCM of 36 and 54.
Solution:
2 36 54
3 18 27
3 6 9
2 3

Therefore, LCM (36,54) = 2 × 3 × 3 × 2 × 3 = 108.

MASTERY PRACTICE: Find the GCF of 84 and 96 using the following methods. Show all your solution.

1. Listing Method 3. Prime Factorization

2. Continuous Division Method

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING/ASSIGNMENT

Instruction: Find the GCF of 405, 370, and 590 using the following methods. Show all your solution.

1. Listing Method 3. Prime Factorization

2. Continuous Division Method

“There’s always future in Mathematics.” Page 1