LCM( 18, 84, 120 ) = 2520
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
18 = 2 · 3 · 3
84 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 7
120 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 5
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
18 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||||
84 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||||
120 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
18 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||||||
84 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||||||
120 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 | ||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 5 | · | 7 | = | 2520 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.