LCM( 2, 24, 160 ) = 480
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
2 = 2
24 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 3
160 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 5
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
2 | = | 2 | ||||||||||||
24 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||
160 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
2 | = | 2 | ||||||||||||||
24 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||||
160 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 | = | 480 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.