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LCM

Least common multiple

Here you will learn about the least common multiple, including a review on prime factorization and how to use it to find the least common multiple

Students will first learn about the least common multiple as part of the number system in 6th grade.

What is the least common multiple?

The least common multiple (LCM) is the smallest number that two or more integers share as a multiple. The name itself tells you what the skill is:

Take, for example, $4$ and $6.$

By listing the multiples of $4$ and $6,$ you can see that the first common multiple that occurs in each list is $12.$ So, the least common multiple of $4$ and $6$ is $12.$

You may also notice that $24$ occurs in both lists. This is a common multiple, but not the least common multiple.

The Prime Factorization Method

Calculating the least common multiple becomes more complicated for larger numbers. Listing all the multiples of each number can be time-consuming and it is easy to miscalculate a multiple.

To make it simpler, you can use the prime factors of both numbers. You can use prime factors and a Venn diagram to calculate the Least Common Multiple.

You need to write out the prime factorization of each number fully and then put the numbers into the Venn diagram by looking for pairs.

Here, you have the prime factors of $12$ and $30.$

The yellow section represents the prime factors of $12$ that are not prime factors of $30$ (which is just the prime factor of $2).$
The blue section represents the prime factors of $30$ that are not prime factors of $12$ (which is just the prime factor of $5).$
The green intersection represents the prime factors of $12$ and $30 \; (2$ and $3).$

The least common multiple of $12$ and $30$ is equal to the product of all the factors viewed in the Venn diagram.

The least common multiple is $2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 5= 60.$

What is the least common multiple?

Common Core State Standards

How does this relate to 6th grade math?

Grade 6 – The Number System (6.NS.B.4)
Find the greatest common factor of two whole numbers less than or equal to $100$ and the least common multiple of two whole numbers less than or equal to $12.$ Use the distributive property to express a sum of two whole numbers

How to calculate the least common multiple

In order to calculate the least common multiple for two or more numbers:

State the product of prime factors of each number.
Write all the prime factors into the Venn diagram for each number.
Multiply each prime factor in the Venn diagram to find the LCM.

[FREE] Least Common Multiple Worksheet (Grade 6)

Use this worksheet to check your grade 6 students’ understanding of least common multiples. 15 questions with answers to identify areas of strength and support!

DOWNLOAD FREE

[FREE] Least Common Multiple Worksheet (Grade 6)

Use this worksheet to check your grade 6 students’ understanding of least common multiples. 15 questions with answers to identify areas of strength and support!

DOWNLOAD FREE

Least common multiple examples

Example 1: two simple composite numbers.

Calculate the least common multiple of $18$ and $24.$

State the product of prime factors of each number.

$\begin{aligned} & 18=2 \times 3 \times 3 \\\\ & 24=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \end{aligned}$

2Write all the prime factors into the Venn diagram for each number.

3Multiply each prime factor in the Venn diagram to find the LCM.

LCM $=3 \times 2 \times 3 \times 2 \times 2=72$

Example 2: one composite number is a factor of the other

Calculate the least common multiple of $14$ and $56.$

State the product of prime factors of each number.

$\begin{aligned} & 14=2 \times 7 \\\\ & 56=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 7 \end{aligned}$

Write all the prime factors into the Venn diagram for each number.

Multiply each prime factor in the Venn diagram to find the LCM.

LCM $=2 \times 7 \times 2 \times 2=56$

Example 3: calculate the prime factorization first

Given that $90=2 \times 3^2 \times 5$ in exponent form, work out the least common multiple of $54$ and $90.$

State the product of prime factors of each number.

To state the product of prime factors of $54,$ you use a factor tree:

$\begin{aligned} & 54=2 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \\\\ & 90=2 \times 3 \times 3 \times 5 \end{aligned}$

Write all the prime factors into the Venn diagram for each number.

Multiply each prime factor in the Venn diagram to find the LCM.

LCM $=3 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3 \times 5=270$

Example 4: three composite numbers

Calculate the least common multiple of $12, 20,$ and $32.$

State the product of prime factors of each number.

$\begin{aligned} & 12=2 \times 2 \times 3 \\\\ & 20=2 \times 2 \times 5 \\\\ & 32=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \end{aligned}$

Write all the prime factors into the Venn diagram for each number.

Multiply each prime factor in the Venn diagram to find the LCM.

LCM $=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 5=480$

Example 5: the least common multiple = a × b

Calculate the least common multiple of $35$ and $72.$

State the product of prime factors of each number.

$\begin{aligned} & 35=5 \times 7 \\\\ & 72=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3 \end{aligned}$

Write all the prime factors into the Venn diagram for each number.

Multiply each prime factor in the Venn diagram to find the LCM.

LCM $=5 \times 7 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3=35 \times 72=2,520$

Example 6: word problem

There are two lights blinking on a machine. The green light blinks every $36$ seconds and the blue light blinks every $42$ seconds. When they both blink at the same time, how much time is it before they blink at the same time again?

State the product of prime factors of each number.

$\begin{aligned} & 36=2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3 \\\\ & 42=2 \times 3 \times 7 \end{aligned}$

Write all the prime factors into the Venn diagram for each number.

Multiply each prime factor in the Venn diagram to find the LCM.

LCM $=2 \times 3 \times 2 \times 3 \times 7=252$ seconds

To answer the question:

$252$ seconds $= 4$ minutes and $12$ seconds, so they blink at the same time every $4$ minutes and $12$ seconds.

Teaching tips for least common multiple

At the beginning, use smaller numbers so students can focus on learning and understanding the procedure. Then move to larger numbers to challenge students’ ability to find all the prime factors of a number.

Look for opportunities for students to use LCM in real-world situations instead of using just practice problem worksheets.

Some students may struggle to find all the prime factors, especially for larger numbers. Provide a calculator to assist students so that they can keep their focus on the skill and not be held back by the calculations.

Easy mistakes to make

Calculating the greatest common factor (GCF) instead of LCM
It is common to mix up the least common multiple with the greatest common factor. To avoid this, remember the definition of multiples and factors.
Multiples: the product of two or more factors being multiplied
Factors: the number being multiplied
For example,
What is the GCF of $3$ and $9?$ What is the LCM of $3$ and $9?$
Factors of $3\text{: } 1, 3$ Multiples of $3\text{: } 3, 6, 9, 12, 15…$
Factors of $9\text{: } 1, 3, 9$ Multiples of $9\text{: } 9, 18, 27, 36…$
The GCF is $3$ The LCM is $9$

Multiplying the two numbers and assuming that is the LCM
Multiplying the two numbers in the question will find a common multiple, but it may not be the least common multiple.
For example,
What is the LCM of $3$ and $9?$
$3 \times 9 = 27 ←$ common multiple, but not the LCM

Not writing duplicate factors in the Venn diagram
It is easy to forget the repeated prime factors in a Venn diagram, but the procedure only works if they are all included.
For example,
What is the LCM of $12$ and $20?$

Least common multiple practice questions

2,940

210

14

420

\begin{aligned} &42=2 \times 3 \times 7\\\\ &70=2 \times 5 \times 7 \end{aligned}

Least Common Multiple Practice question 1

LCM $=2\times 3 \times 5 \times 7=210$

38

2,888

76

19

\begin{aligned} &38= 2 \times 19 \\\\ &76= 2\times 2 \times 19 \end{aligned}

Least Common Multiple Practice question 2

LCM $=2 \times 2 \times 19 =76$

408

1632

4

816

24=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3

Least Common Multiple Practice question 3

LCM $=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 17=408$

11,250

5

450

2,250

\begin{aligned} &10=2 \times 5\\\\ &25=5 \times 5\\\\ &45=3 \times 3 \times 5 \end{aligned}

Least Common Multiple Practice question 4

LCM $=2 \times 3 \times 3 \times 5 \times 5 = 450$

144

1,440

1

720

\begin{aligned} &16=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2\\\\ &45=3 \times 3 \times 5 \end{aligned}

Least Common Multiple Practice question 5

LCM $=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3 \times 5 =720$

$144$ mins

$2$ secs

$1$ min $12$ secs

$2$ mins $24$ secs

\begin{aligned} &16=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2\\\\ &18=2 \times 3 \times 3 \end{aligned}

Least Common Multiple Practice question 6

LCM $=2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3=144$

$144$ seconds $= 2$ mins $24$ secs

Least common multiple FAQs

Why does the product of the numbers in the Venn diagram equal the LCM?

The Venn diagram breaks each number down into its prime factors. Writing numbers once in the intersection eliminates all the duplicate factors, so what is left are the prime factors of the smallest multiple the numbers have in common. So multiplying them together equals the LCM.

Are there other terms for Least Common Multiple (LCM)?

Lowest Common Denominator (LCD), Least Common Denominator (LCD), and Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) are also other terms that mean the same as Least Common Multiple.

Are there different methods to find the LCM?

Yes, besides the prime factorization method, you can make a list of multiples for each number until you reach the first common multiple.

Does the largest number in a set of numbers always have more prime factors?

No, not necessarily. For example, the number $36=2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3$ has $4$ prime factors while $71 = 3 \times 17$ has only $2,$ so in this case the smallest number has more factors.

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