LCM( 12, 19, 18 ) = 684
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
12 = 2 · 2 · 3
19 = 19
18 = 2 · 3 · 3
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||
19 | = | 19 | ||||||||
18 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||
19 | = | 19 | ||||||||||
18 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 19 | = | 684 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.