LCM( 8, 3, 20 ) = 120
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
8 = 2 · 2 · 2
3 = 3
20 = 2 · 2 · 5
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
8 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||
3 | = | 3 | ||||||||
20 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
8 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | ||||||
3 | = | 3 | ||||||||||
20 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 5 | ||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 5 | = | 120 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.