LCM( 16, 24, 40 ) = 240
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
16 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
24 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 3
40 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 5
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
16 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||
24 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||
40 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
16 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||||
24 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||
40 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 | = | 240 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.