LCM( 40, 42 ) = 840
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
40 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 5
42 = 2 · 3 · 7
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
40 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||
42 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
40 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||||
42 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 | · | 7 | = | 840 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.