Question

Question #8c080

Answer 1

`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`.