Question #9046f

3 Answers
Feb 8, 2018

The LCM is 12, but how you can find it for any numbers is explained below.

Explanation:

Two find the LCM of two numbers (or more) write the numbers as the product of their prime factors. That means find a way to express the number as the product of prime numbers only (like 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and so on).

4 can be written #2xx2#

6 is #2xx3#

Now look for any prime number that appears in both expressions (the 2 in this case).

Keep one of these 2s and all the other numbers (the other 2 in the #2xx2# product and the 3 in the #2xx3# product).

Multiply them all together:

#2xx2xx3=12# that is the LCM!

Feb 9, 2018

#lcm(4,6)=12#

Explanation:

write down the multiples of each number then pick out the common ones

multiples of #" "4:{4,8,color(red)(12),16,color(red)(24),....}#

multiples of #" "6:{6,color(red)(12),18,color(red)(24),30,...}#

common multiples#" "{12,24,..}#

#lcm(4,6)=12#

Feb 14, 2018

#12#

Explanation:

#6# and #4# have a common factor so their LCM will not be their product,

The prime factor method works for numbers of any size;

#" "4= 2xx2#
#" "6 =ul(2" "xx3)#
#LCM = 2xx2xx3 = 12#

FOr small numbers you should be able to do this mentally.

Run through the multiples of the bigger number until you find one which is divisible by the other number.

#6" "larr# no, not divisible by #4#
#12" "larr# yes, is divisible by #4#

There are many common factors of #4 and 6#, but #12# is the lowest.

#12,24,36,48,60 ......#
#uarr#
#LCM#