Least Common Multiple (LCM) with Polynomials

Example 1: Find the LCM of x3 + 5x2 + 6x and 2x3 + 4x2

Factor each expression (See Factoring Section):

x3 + 5x2 + 6x → x(x + 2)(x + 3)

2x3 + 4x2 → 2x2 (x + 2)

x + 2 x(x+2)(x+3) 2x (x + 2)

2
x x(x + 3) 2x

x + 3 2x

∴ LCM(x3 + 5x2 + 6x, 2x3 + 4x2 ) = x(x + 2)(x + 3)(2x)

Example 2: Find the LCM of x2 − 3x + 2, x2 − 5x + 6, and x2 − 7x + 12

Factor each expression (See Factoring Section):

x2 − 3x + 2 → (x − 2)(x − 1)

x2 − 5x + 6 → (x − 3)(x − 2)

x2 − 7x + 12 → (x − 3)(x − 4)

x-2 (x-2)(x-1) (x-3)(x-2) (x-3)(x-4)

x-3 x-1 x-3 (x-3)(x-4)

x-1 1 x-4
∴ LCM(x2 − 3x + 2, x2 − 5x + 6, x2 − 7x + 12) = (x − 2)(x − 3)(x − 1)(x − 4)