Question

Question #9046f

Answer 1

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!

Answer 2

`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`

Answer 3

`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`