LCM( 1, 12 ) = 12
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
1 = 1
12 = 2 · 2 · 3
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
1 | = | 1 | ||||||
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
1 | = | 1 | ||||||||
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||
LCM | = | 1 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | = | 12 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.