LCM( 32, 98, 46 ) = 36064
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
32 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
98 = 2 · 7 · 7
46 = 2 · 23
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
32 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||||
98 | = | 2 | · | 7 | · | 7 | ||||||||||
46 | = | 2 | · | 23 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
32 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||||||
98 | = | 2 | · | 7 | · | 7 | ||||||||||||
46 | = | 2 | · | 23 | ||||||||||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 7 | · | 7 | · | 23 | = | 36064 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.