Least Common

Multiple (LCM)
Least Common Multiple (LCM)

Important to Remember…
There are THREE methods for finding the
Common Multiples of two or more
numbers…

Method 1…Use Multiple Lists

Method 2…Use Prime Factorization
Method 3…Use Division Method
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 1 – Multiple
List
Example
Step 1: Create1: Find
a list the LCM
of multiples for eachof 4 and 9.
number
Step 2: Circle the first multiple the numbers have in common

4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, …

9: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63,…

The LCM of 4 and 9 is 36

 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 1 – Multiple
List
Example
Step 1: Create3: Find
a list the LCM
of multiple for each of 12 and 16.
number
Step 2: Circle the first multiple the numbers have in common
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 1 – Multiple
List
Example
Step 1: Create2: Find
a list the LCM
of multiple for each of 10 and 12.
number
Step 2: Circle the first multiple the numbers have in common

10: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80,…

12: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84,…

The LCM of 10 and 12 is 60

 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 1 – Multiple
List
Example
Step 1: Create3: Find
a list the LCM
of multiple for each of 12 and 16.
number
Step 2: Circle the first multiple the numbers have in common

12: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, …

16: 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96,…
FYI…there is always more
than one multiple for any set The LCM of 12 and 16 is 48
of numbers
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 2 – Prime Factorization
Example 1: Find the LCM of 4 and 9.
Step 1: Find the prime factorization of each number.
Step 2: Find the product of all the prime factors.

4 9 4: 2 · 2
2 2 3 3 9: 3·3

2·2 3·3 2·2·3·3=

36LCM = 36
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 2 – Prime Factorization
Example 2: Find the LCM of 10 and 12.
Step 1: Find the prime factorization of each number.
Step 2: Find the product of all the prime factors
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 2 – Prime Factorization
Example 2: Find the LCM of 10 and 12.
Step 1: Find the prime factorization of each number.
Step 2: Find the product of all the prime factors

10 1 10: 2 · 5
2 5 2
3 4 12: 2 2·3

2·5 2 2 2·5·2·3=
3·2·2 60
LCM = 60
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 2 – Prime Factorization
Example 3: Find the LCM of 12 and 16.
Step 1: Find the prime factorization of each number.
Step 2: Find the product of all the prime factors

1 16 12: 2 · 2 ·
2 316: 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
3 4 4 4
2 2 2 2 2 2 2·2·2·2·3=
48
3·2·2 2·2·2·2 LCM = 48
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 3 – Division Method
Example 1: Find the LCM of 4 and 9.
Step 1: Write the given numbers in a horizontal line, separating
them by commas.
Step 2: Divide them by a suitable prime number, which exactly
divides at least two of the given numbers.
Step 3: We put the quotient directly under the numbers in the next
row. If the number is not divided exactly, we bring it down in the
next row.
Step 4: We multiply all the prime numbers by which we have
divided and the co-prime numbers left in the last row. This product
is the least common multiple of the given numbers.
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 3 – Division Method
Example 1: Find the LCM of 20 and 30.

2 × 2 × 5 × 3 = 60
LCM = 60
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 3 – Division Method
Example 2: Find the LCM of 15, 35 and 45.

3 x 3 x 5 x 7 = 315
LCM = 315
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Finding the LCM: Method 3 – Division Method
Example 2: Find the LCM of 13, 36 and 78.

2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 13 = 468
LCM = 468
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Guided Practice Problems
Directions: Find the LCM for each number set.

1. 9 and 12
2. 4, 8, and 12
3. 2, 3, 6, and 8
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Guided Practice Problems
Directions: Find the LCM for each number set.

1. 9 and 12
2. 4, 8, and 12
3. 2, 3, 6, and 8
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Independent Practice Problems
Directions: Find the LCM for each number set.

1. 6 and 10
2. 2, 4, and 5
3. 4, 6, and 8
 Least Common Multiple (LCM)
Independent Practice Problems
Directions: Find the LCM for each number set.

1. 6 and 10 => 30
2. 2, 4, and 5 => 20
3. 4, 6, and 8 => 24