How to Find the Least Common Multiple
Finding the least common multiple is easy.Question
What is the least common multiple of 3 and 4?Step-by-Step:
1
List the multiples of 3.
Multiples of 3 = 3, 6, 9, 12, 15...
Don't forget: The multiples of 3 are the result of multiplying 3 by successive integers: 3 × 1 = 3, 3 × 2 = 6...
2
List the multiples of 4.
Multiples of 4 = 4, 8, 12, 16, 20...
3
The smallest multiple that appears in both lists is the least common multiple.
Multiples of 3 = 3, 6, 9, 12, 15...
Multiples of 4 = 4, 8, 12, 16, 20...
Answer:
12 is the least common multiple of 3 and 4.What's in a Name?
The least common multiple (LCM) is so called because it is the smallest (least) multiple that is the same (common) to the numbers.What Is a Multiple?
A multiple is the result of multiplying a number by an integer (a whole number). For example, the multiples of 3 are:
3, 6, 9, 12, 15
- 3 is the result of multiplying 3 by 1.
- 6 is the result of multiplying 3 by 2.
- 9 is the result of multiplying 3 by 3.
- 12 is the result of multiplying 3 by 4.
- 15 is the result of multiplying 3 by 5.
What Is the Least Common Multiple?
The Least Common Multiple is the smallest multiple that is common to two or more numbers.
This page was written by Stephen Clarke.
You might also like...
Help Us Improve Mathematics Monster
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Find Us Quicker!
- When using a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing), you will find Mathematics Monster quicker if you add #mm to your search term.
Share This Page
If you like Mathematics Monster (or this page in particular), please link to it or share it with others.
If you do, please tell us. It helps us a lot!
Create a QR Code
Use our handy widget to create a QR code for this page...or any page.
