Scientific Tutor
Chem – Least Common Multiple
Author: Andrew
The least common multiple is something you will need to know for a couple of the coming lessons in the first half of chemistry. What is the least common multiple? Well if you take two or more numbers like 2 and 3 and try to find a new and higher number that is a common multiple to both of them that is your greatest common multiple. In this case the least common multiple for 2 and 3 would be 6. If you multiply 2 by 3 it = 6. If you multiply 3 by 2 it = 6. As you can see a quick way to find a common multiple is to multiply together the two numbers you are trying to deal with. This will always give you a common multiple. However, it will not always give you the LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE.
Examples: Give the least common multiple between these numbers. VIDEO demonstration of the least common multiple examples below.
| 4 and 5 | 20 |
| 8 and 7 | 56 |
| 4 and 2 | 4 |
| 6 and 12 | 12 |
PRACTICE PROBLEMS: Give the least common multiple between these numbers.
| 3 and 4 | 12 |
| 6 and 5 | 30 |
| 1 and 6 | 6 |
| 48 and 6 | 48 |
Posted in Chemistry
