LCM( 12, 18, 48 ) = 144
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
12 = 2 · 2 · 3
18 = 2 · 3 · 3
48 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 3
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||
18 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||
48 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||||
18 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||||
48 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | = | 144 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.