The Least Common Multiple, or LCM, is the smallest positive number that can be divided evenly by two or more numbers. Its also called the Lowest Common Multiple.
For Example: Find the LCM of 12 and 16.
Multiples of 12: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120 ...
Multiples of 16: 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160...
So the common multiples of 12 and 16 are 48, 96, ..., but the smallest of these is 48. So, LCM(12, 16) = 48.
Take another example with division method
Find the LCM of number 20, 30, and 50.
| 2 | 20, 30, 50 |
| 2 | 10, 15, 25 |
| 3 | 5, 15, 25 |
| 5 | 5, 5, 25 |
| 5 | 1, 1, 5 |
Now, multiply the divisors: .
So, LCM(20, 30, 50) = 300.
Input: Number 1 = 12 , Number 2 = 15, Number 3 = 20
Calculation: LCM(12, 15) = 60, LCM(60, 20) = 60
Output: LCM: 60 Formula: LCM(12, 15, 20) = LCM(12, 15) = 60, LCM(60, 20) = 60
In the image below, we can see how to calculate the LCM with the division method.