LCM( 84, 42, 38 ) = 1596
Step 1: Write down factorisation of each number:
84 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 7
42 = 2 · 3 · 7
38 = 2 · 19
Step 2 : Match primes vertically:
84 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||
42 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||
38 | = | 2 | · | 19 |
Step 3 : Bring down numbers in each column and multiply to get LCM:
84 | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||
42 | = | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | ||||||
38 | = | 2 | · | 19 | ||||||||
LCM | = | 2 | · | 2 | · | 3 | · | 7 | · | 19 | = | 1596 |
This solution can be visualized using a Venn diagram.
The LCM is equal to the product of all the numbers on the diagram.