# Least Common Multiple

Learn how to find the Least Common Multiple of two or more numbers in few easy steps.

## Step by step guide to finding the Least Common Multiple

• Least Common Multiple is the smallest multiple that two or more numbers have in common.
• How to find LCM: list out all the multiples of each number and then find the smallest one they have in common.

### Example 1:

Find the LCM for $$8$$ and $$6$$.

Solution:

Multiples of $$8$$: $$8, 16, 24, 32, 40, …$$
Multiples of $$6$$: $$6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 …$$
LCM $$=24$$

### Example 2:

Find the LCM for $$4$$ and $$12$$.

Solution:

Multiples of $$4$$: $$4, 8, 12, 16, 20, …$$
Multiples of $$12$$: $$12, 24, 36, 48, …$$
LCM $$=12$$

### Example 3:

Find the LCM for $$3$$ and $$4$$.

Solution:

Multiples of $$3$$: $$3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24$$
Multiples of $$4$$: $$4,8,12,16,20,24$$
LCM $$=12$$

### Example 4:

Find the LCM for $$9$$ and $$12$$.

Solution:

Multiples of $$9$$: $$9,18,27,36,45$$
Multiples of $$12$$: $$12,24,36,48$$
LCM $$=36$$

## Exercises

### Find the LCM for each number pair.

• $$\color{blue}{4,14}$$
• $$\color{blue}{5,15}$$
• $$\color{blue}{16,10}$$
• $$\color{blue}{4,34}$$
• $$\color{blue}{8,3}$$
• $$\color{blue}{12,24}$$

• $$\color{blue}{28}$$
• $$\color{blue}{15}$$
• $$\color{blue}{80}$$
• $$\color{blue}{68}$$
• $$\color{blue}{24}$$
• $$\color{blue}{24}$$