LCM( 6, 12, 32 ) = 96
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
6 = 2 · 3
12 = 2 · 2 · 3
32 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
6 | = | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||||
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||
32 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
6 | = | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||||||
12 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | ||||||||
32 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | = | 96 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.