LCM( 36, 24, 16 ) = 144
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
36 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 3
24 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 3
16 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||
24 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||
16 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||
24 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||
16 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | = | 144 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.