Question

How do you find the least common multiple for each pair `3x^2y^6, 4x^3y^2`?

Answer 1

Treat x and y like prime numbers.

Explanation:

The LCM for 3 and 4 (the coefficients of both) would be 12.
The LCM for `x^2` and `x^3` is `x^3` (because `x^3` is divisible by both `x^2` and `x^3`).
The LCM for `y^6` and `y^2` is `y^6` (because `y^6` is divisible by both `y^6` and `y^2`).
Therefore the least common multiple for the pair `3x^2y^6` and `4x^3y^2` is 12`x^3y^6`.