Least Common Multiple

Multiples
 A multiple is formed by multiplying a
given number by the counting numbers.
 The counting numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, etc.
Example: List the multiples of 4:
 4x1=4 So, the multiples of 4
are 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,
 4x2=8 28, etc.
 4 x 3 = 12
 4 x 4 = 16
 4 x 5 = 20
 4 x 6 = 24

Counting Numbers
What are the first five multiples of
13?
13 x 1 =13
13 x 2 = 26
13 x 3 = 39 13, 26, 39, 52, 65
13 x 4 = 52
13 x 5 = 65
Find the Missing Multiples

 6, 24 ____
12, 18, ____, 30

3
 ___, 15 ____,
6, 9, 12, ____, 18 21

12
 ___, 72
24, 36, 48, 60, ____
Least Common Multiple (LCM)
 The least common multiple is the smallest
number that is common between two lists of
multiples.
EXAMPLE:
Find the LCM of 12 and 18
The multiples of 12: The multiples of 18:
•12 x 1 = 12 •18 x 1 = 18
•12 x 2 =24 •18 x 2 = 36
•12 x 3 = 36 •18 x 3 = 54
•12 x 4 = 48 •18 x 4 = 72
•12 x 5 =60 •18 x 5 = 90
12, 24, 36, 48, 60
18, 36, 54, 72, 90

The first number you see in both lists

is 36.
The least common multiple of 12
and 18 is 36.
Example 2:
Find the LCM of 9 and 10

9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72 81, 90, 99

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 90, 100, 110
If you don’t see a common multiple, make
each list go further.

The LCM of 9 and 10 is 90

Example 3:
Find the LCM of 4 and 12

4, 8, 12, 16
12, 24, 36
Answer: 12
Using Prime Factorization to find
the LCM
•Make factor trees for each number. Write the
prime factorization in exponent form.

•Identifyall of the prime numbers among the prime

factorizations. Every prime number will be used.

•When the same prime number occurs in more than

one prime factorization, select the prime that there’s
more of (for example, 25 beats 22.)

• Multiply your prime numbers to get the LCM.

Example: Find the LCM of 88 and
102
88 102 88 = 23 x 11
102 = 2 x 3 x 17
2 x 44 2 x 51 LCM: 23 x 3 x 11 x 17 = 4,488

2 x 22 3 x 17
We have to use every prime number. The
2 x 11 numbers we will use are 2, 3, 11, and 17.
We have 2 in both places. Select the “bigger”
one. 23 beats regular 2.
Homework Time