LCM( 2, 3, 12, 4 ) = 12
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
2 = 2
3 = 3
12 = 2 · 2 · 3
4 = 2 · 2
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
2 | = | 2 | ||||
3 | = | 3 | ||||
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 |
4 | = | 2 | · | 2 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
2 | = | 2 | ||||||
3 | = | 3 | ||||||
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||
4 | = | 2 | · | 2 | ||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | = | 12 |