Question

What is the least common denominator of `3/4 and 1/8`? Thank you!!

Answer 1

`LCM = 8`

Explanation:

You need to find the lowest number which is divisible by both `4 and 8`.

One way is to look at the multiples of both of them:

`4: rarr 4" "8" "12" "16" "20" "24" "28" "32" "36" ".....`
`8: rarr 8" "16" "24" "32" "40" "...`

You will see that there are numbers which are repeated. in both lists. These are the common multiples:

Common fcators `:rarr 8" "16" "24" "32" "40" "...`

Of these `8` is the lowest or least. The `LCM = 8`

However, it is quicker if you realise that `4` is a factor of `8`, anything divisible by `8` is automatically divisible by `4` as well.

`8` is divisible by `8 and 4`, therefore it is the `LCM`