LCM( 20, 56, 70 ) = 280
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
20 = 2 · 2 · 5
56 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 7
70 = 2 · 5 · 7
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
20 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||
56 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 7 | ||
70 | = | 2 | · | 5 | · | 7 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
20 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||||
56 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 7 | ||||
70 | = | 2 | · | 5 | · | 7 | ||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | · | 7 | = | 280 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.