LCM( 2, 3, 14, 36, 42 ) = 252
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
2 = 2
3 = 3
14 = 2 · 7
36 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 3
42 = 2 · 3 · 7
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
2 | = | 2 | ||||||||
3 | = | 3 | ||||||||
14 | = | 2 | · | 7 | ||||||
36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||
42 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
2 | = | 2 | ||||||||||
3 | = | 3 | ||||||||||
14 | = | 2 | · | 7 | ||||||||
36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||
42 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 7 | = | 252 |