Question #8c080

1 Answer
Feb 12, 2017

12

Explanation:

To find the LCM of two numbers (or any amount of numbers) we must first find the prime factorization of each number separately.

Let's take the number 4 :

4 = 2 * 2

4 = 2^2

Now the number 6 :

6 = 2 * 3

From here we must determine the factors of each number with the highest exponent.

For example, both the number 4 and the number 6 share the factor 2 . But 2 appears twice in the prime factorization of 4 . So we must use that. We now have:

2^2

Another factor that appears is the number 3 . 3 only appears in the prime factorization of 6 , so we must use that. Now we have:

2^2 * 3

Simplify from here.

4 * 3

12

So therefore, the LCM of 4 and 6 is 12 .