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Arithmetic Review: The Least Common Multiple

Module by: Wade Ellis, Denny Burzynski. E-mail the authors

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Summary: This module is from Elementary Algebra by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. This chapter contains many examples of arithmetic techniques that are used directly or indirectly in algebra. Since the chapter is intended as a review, the problem-solving techniques are presented without being developed. Therefore, no work space is provided, nor does the chapter contain all of the pedagogical features of the text. As a review, this chapter can be assigned at the discretion of the instructor and can also be a valuable reference tool for the student.

Note: Your browser may not currently support MathML. See our browser support page for additional details. You can always view the correct math in the PDF version.

Overview

  • Multiples
  • Common Multiples
  • The Least Common Multiple (LCM)
  • Finding The Least Common Multiple

Multiples

Multiples

When a whole number is multiplied by other whole numbers, with the exception of Multiples zero, the resulting products are called multiples of the given whole number.

Table 1
Multiples of 2   Multiples of 3   Multiples of 8   Multiples of 10
2·1=2 2·1=2   3·1=3 3·1=3   8·1=8 8·1=8   10·1=10 10·1=10
2·2=4 2·2=4   3·2=6 3·2=6   8·2=16 8·2=16   10·2=20 10·2=20
2·3=6 2·3=6   3·3=9 3·3=9   8·3=24 8·3=24   10·3=30 10·3=30
2·4=8 2·4=8   3·4=12 3·4=12   8·4=32 8·4=32   10·4=40 10·4=40
2·5=10 2·5=10   3·5=15 3·5=15   8·5=40 8·5=40   10·5=50 10·5=50
…   …   …   …

Common Multiples

There will be times when we are given two or more whole numbers and we will need to know if there are any multiples that are common to each of them. If there are, we will need to know what they are. For example, some of the multiples that are common to 2 and 3 are 6, 12, and 18.

Sample Set A

Example 1

We can visualize common multiples using the number line.

A horizontal line numbered from zero to eighteen. Multiples of two and three are marked with dark circles, and are connected through arcs. Six, twelve and eighteen are labeled as "First common multiple", "Second common multiple", and "Third common multiple", respectively.

Notice that the common multiples can be divided by both whole numbers.

The Least Common Multiple (LCM)

Notice that in our number line visualization of common multiples (above) the first common multiple is also the smallest, or least common multiple, abbreviated by LCM.

Least Common Multiple

The least common multiple, LCM, of two or more whole numbers is the smallest whole number that each of the given numbers will divide into without a remainder.

Finding The Least Common Multiple

Finding the LCM

To find the LCM of two or more numbers,

  1. Write the prime factorization of each number, using exponents on repeated factors.
  2. Write each base that appears in each of the prime factorizations.
  3. To each base, attach the largest exponent that appears on it in the prime factorizations.
  4. The LCM is the product of the numbers found in step 3.

Sample Set B

Find the LCM of the following number.

Example 2

 9 and 12

  1. 9 = 3 · 3 = 3 2 12 = 2 · 6 = 2 · 2 · 3 = 2 2  · 3 9 = 3 · 3 = 3 2 12 = 2 · 6 = 2 · 2 · 3 = 2 2  · 3
  2. The bases that appear in the prime factorizations are 2 and 3.
  3. The largest exponents appearing on 2 and 3 in the prime factorizations are, respectively, 2 and 2 (or 2 2 2 2 from 12, and 3 2 3 2 from 9).
  4. The LCM is the product of these numbers.

     LCM = 2 2  ·  3 2 =4 · 9=36 LCM = 2 2  ·  3 2 =4 · 9=36
 Thus, 36 is the smallest number that both 9 and 12 divide into without remainders.

Example 3

 90 and 630

  1. 90 = 2 · 45 = 2 · 3 · 15 = 2 · 3 · 3 · 5 = 2 ·  3 2  · 5 630 = 2 · 315 = 2 · 3 · 105 = 2 · 3 · 3 · 35 = 2 · 3 · 3 · 5 · 7 = 2 ·  3 2  · 5 · 7 90 = 2 · 45 = 2 · 3 · 15 = 2 · 3 · 3 · 5 = 2 ·  3 2  · 5 630 = 2 · 315 = 2 · 3 · 105 = 2 · 3 · 3 · 35 = 2 · 3 · 3 · 5 · 7 = 2 ·  3 2  · 5 · 7
  2. The bases that appear in the prime factorizations are 2, 3, 5, and 7.
  3. The largest exponents that appear on 2, 3, 5, and 7 are, respectively, 1, 2, 1, and 1.

     2 1 from either 90 or 630 3 2 from either 90 or 630 5 1 from either 90 or 630 7 1 from 630 2 1 from either 90 or 630 3 2 from either 90 or 630 5 1 from either 90 or 630 7 1 from 630
  4. The LCM is the product of these numbers.

     LCM =2 ·  3 2  · 5 · 7=2 · 9 · 5 · 7=630 LCM =2 ·  3 2  · 5 · 7=2 · 9 · 5 · 7=630
 Thus, 630 is the smallest number that both 90 and 630 divide into with no remainders.

Example 4

 33, 110, and 484

  1. 33 = 3 · 11 110 = 2 · 55 = 2 · 5 · 11 484 = 2 · 242 = 2 · 2 · 121=2 · 2 · 11 · 11= 2 2  ·  11 2 33 = 3 · 11 110 = 2 · 55 = 2 · 5 · 11 484 = 2 · 242 = 2 · 2 · 121=2 · 2 · 11 · 11= 2 2  ·  11 2
  2. The bases that appear in the prime factorizations are 2, 3, 5, and 11.
  3. The largest exponents that appear on 2, 3, 5, and 11 are, respectively, 2, 1, 1, and 2.

     2 2 from 484 3 1 from 33 5 1 from 110 11 2 from 484 2 2 from 484 3 1 from 33 5 1 from 110 11 2 from 484
  4. The LCM is the product of these numbers.

     LCM = 2 2  · 3 · 5 ·  11 2 = 4 · 3 · 5 · 121 = 7260 LCM = 2 2  · 3 · 5 ·  11 2 = 4 · 3 · 5 · 121 = 7260
 Thus, 7260 is the smallest number that 33, 110, and 484 divide into without remainders.

Exercises

For the following problems, find the least common multiple of given numbers.

Exercise 1

8, 12

Solution

2 3  · 3 2 3  · 3

Exercise 2

8, 10

Exercise 3

6, 12

Solution

2 2  · 3 2 2  · 3

Exercise 4

9, 18

Exercise 5

5, 6

Solution

2 · 3 · 5 2 · 3 · 5

Exercise 6

7, 9

Exercise 7

28, 36

Solution

2 2  ·  3 2  · 7 2 2  ·  3 2  · 7

Exercise 8

24, 36

Exercise 9

28, 42

Solution

2 2  · 3 · 7 2 2  · 3 · 7

Exercise 10

20, 24

Exercise 11

25, 30

Solution

2 · 3 ·  5 2 2 · 3 ·  5 2

Exercise 12

24, 54

Exercise 13

16, 24

Solution

2 4  · 3 2 4  · 3

Exercise 14

36, 48

Exercise 15

15, 21

Solution

3 · 5 · 7 3 · 5 · 7

Exercise 16

7, 11, 33

Exercise 17

8, 10, 15

Solution

2 3  · 3 · 5 2 3  · 3 · 5

Exercise 18

4, 5, 21

Exercise 19

45, 63, 98

Solution

2 ·  3 2  · 5 ·  7 2 2 ·  3 2  · 5 ·  7 2

Exercise 20

15, 25, 40

Exercise 21

12, 16, 20

Solution

2 4  · 3 · 5 2 4  · 3 · 5

Exercise 22

12, 16, 24

Exercise 23

12, 16, 24, 36

Solution

2 4  ·  3 2 2 4  ·  3 2

Exercise 24

6, 9, 12, 18

Exercise 25

8, 14, 28, 32

Solution

2 5  · 7 2 5  · 7

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