Let us understand this concept by an example.
Example: Find the Common Multiples and Least Common Multiple (LCM) of 4 and 5.
Solution:
STEP 1: Write the multiples of 4 and 5
Multiples of 4:
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, ……….
Multiples of 5:
5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ……..
The numbers that are occurring in the multiples of both 4 and 5 are COMMON MULTIPLES of 4 and 5.
Thus, common multiples of 4 and 5 are:
20, 40, 60, ……….
STEP 2: Find Least Common Multiple of 4 and 5
The smallest common multiple of two or more numbers is called LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE, or in short LCM, of those numbers.
In this example Least Common Multiple or LCM of 4 and 5 is 20.
Remember:
The product of two given numbers is always a COMMON MULTIPLE of those numbers.
For example, if the given numbers are 2 and 8, then product of 2 and 8 i-e 16 is a common multiple of 2 and 8
RELATED POST: