LCM( 36, 48, 42 ) = 1008
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
36 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 3
48 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 3
42 = 2 · 3 · 7
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||
48 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||
42 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||||
48 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||
42 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 7 | = | 1008 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.