LCM( 16, 23 ) = 368
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
16 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
23 = 23
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
16 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||
23 | = | 23 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
16 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||
23 | = | 23 | ||||||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 23 | = | 368 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.