LCM( 36, 56, 84 ) = 504
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
36 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 3
56 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 7
84 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 7
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||
56 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 7 | ||||
84 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
36 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | ||||||
56 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 7 | ||||||
84 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 3 | · | 7 | = | 504 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.