Find Least Common Multiple of 16, 36 and 40 using prime factorisation method.
Answer
LCM( 16, 36, 40 ) = 720
Explanation
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
16 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
36 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 3
40 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 5
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
| 16 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||||
| 36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||
| 40 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
| 16 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||||||
| 36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||||
| 40 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||||||
| LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 5 | = | 720 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.
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