LCM( 40, 160, 220 ) = 1760
Step 1 : Write the given numbers in a horizontal line.
40 | 160 | 220 |
Step 2 : Divide the given numbers by smallest prime number. In this example we can divide by 2.
(if any number is not divisible by 2, write it down unchanged)
2 | 40 | 160 | 220 |
20 | 80 | 110 |
Step 3 : Continue dividing by prime numbers till we get 1 in all columns.
2 | 40 | 160 | 220 |
2 | 20 | 80 | 110 |
2 | 10 | 40 | 55 |
2 | 5 | 20 | 55 |
2 | 5 | 10 | 55 |
5 | 5 | 5 | 55 |
11 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
1 | 1 | 1 |
Step 4 : Multiply numbers in first column to get LCM.
LCM( 40, 160, 220 ) = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 5 · 11 = 1760 .
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.